TRANSPORT

Community Transport

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the role of community transport in future transport policy.

Gillian Merron: Community transport has a vital role in helping to meet the transport needs of different groups. The Department works closely with the Community Transport Association and supports over 700 community transport operators in England through the Bus Service Operators Grant.

Concessionary Bus Travel Scheme

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his plans are for implementing the proposed free national concessionary bus travel.

Douglas Alexander: From April 2008 persons aged 60 and over and disabled people will be entitled to free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in the country. We will be consulting authorities, bus operators and other interested parties on the best framework for delivering the improved concessionary fares entitlement.

Buses

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase the use of public transport by bus.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage more use of public transport buses.

Gillian Merron: We are committed to seeing an increase in bus use and improving bus services.
	Over the coming months I will be looking closely at the issues, to come to a decision, later in the year, about the right framework to increase and improve bus travel.

Buses

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage the use of public transport by bus.

Gillian Merron: Within the context of delivering our long-term strategy for improving bus services across the country, the most recent steps taken by the Government include:
	Providing local authorities in England with the resources to support their Local Transport Plan strategies, a large part of which are related to improving bus-related infrastructure (some £571 million invested by local authorities between 2001-02 and 2004-05 in bus improvements);
	The introduction of free local concessionary fares for older and disabled people from April 2006, and the announcement of free national concessionary fares from April 2008;
	Up to £200 million per year of the Transport Innovation Fund (from 2008-09) has been made available specifically to support packages of measures that will address congestion in towns and cities through demand management and public transport improvements, including better bus services;
	Allocating £20 million to fund 43 Kickstart schemes to pump-prime promising local bus services;
	£54 million available for 2006-07 to support rural bus services.
	Providing capital funding for major bus schemes, such as the £42 million contribution towards the Greater Bristol Bus Network scheme.
	Over the coming months we will be looking at the success of these, and other initiatives, with a view to developing future plans to encourage bus use.

Railways

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his plans are to overcome capacity problems on the rail network.

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his plans are to overcome capacity problems on the rail network.

Derek Twigg: We are increasing capacity in a number of ways. Through the franchising process, we are securing increases in train carrying capacity. And we are working with Network Rail on major projects to increase capacity, including the West Coast upgrade and Thameslink. Next year will see the opening of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. And next summer we will publish the High Level Output Statement detailing what we expect to buy from the railway from 2009-14. Capacity will be a key element.

Bus Regulation

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to change bus regulation; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: We are committed to seeing an increase in bus patronage and improving bus services for passengers across the country. Over the coming months we will be looking at what works and what does not work, and will make decisions in the autumn.

Traffic Accidents

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on trends in the number of serious traffic accidents in England.

Stephen Ladyman: Our statistics for 2005 indicate that there were 24,379 accidents involving people killed or seriously injured reported to the police in England, 30 per cent. below the 1994-98 baseline average and 6 per cent. below the number in 2004.

Euston (Intercity Services)

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase intercity services out of Euston as part of the 2009 timetable.

Derek Twigg: The upgrade of West Coast Mainline will be largely completed by end of 2008. As a result the timetable starting in December 2008 is planned to include a substantial increase in long distance services to and from Euston. This is set out in the progress report on the West Coast upgrade project that was published in May 2006.

Road Congestion

Jim Devine: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in improving traffic management to ease road congestion.

Stephen Ladyman: Under the Traffic Management Act 2004 local authorities in England have a duty to manage traffic on their road network, co-ordinate street works and manage parking enforcement. We are consulting on proposals regarding network management duties that will ensure authorities do all they can to tackle congestion and keep traffic moving on their roads.
	Traffic officers are helping to keep traffic moving, ease congestion and ensure safety, primarily on English motorways.

Airport Expansion

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for airport expansion in Southern England.

Gillian Merron: The Government's "Future of Air Transport" White Paper, published in December 2003, sets out a strategic framework for the development of airport capacity in the UK, including at airports in Southern England, over the next 30 years. We intend to publish a progress report on the policies and proposals set out in the Air Transport White Paper (ATWP), by the end of 2006.

Parking Fines

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he plans to take to ensure fairer administration of parking fines by local authorities.

Gillian Merron: The Traffic Management Act 2004 gives the Government power to make regulations and issue statutory guidance on the civil enforcement of parking contraventions including the administration of parking penalty charges. The Secretary of State will tomorrow—12 July—launch our three month consultation "Better Parking—Keeping Traffic Moving" on this.

Advertising Campaigns

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advertising campaigns his Department has run since July 2004; and what the  (a) date and  (b) cost was of each.

Gillian Merron: The Department and its executive agencies monitor expenditure on a fiscal year basis. Campaign expenditure on media advertising for 2004-05 and 2005-06 are set out in the following table. The major areas of expenditure are designed to support our THINK! road safety and car tax offenders campaigns.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Department  Campaign  2004-05  2005-06 
			 DfT THINK! Road safety 9.2 million 11,567,000 
			  Transport Direct 320,000 743,000 
			 
			 DVLA Sale of personalised car registrations 1.9 million 2 million 
			  Continuous registration 2.3 million 2.3 million 
			  Harmonised registration certificate — 1.5 million 
			 
			 Highways Agency Introduction of traffic officers — 153,000 
			  Active traffic management on the M42 — 100,000 
			 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency Safe fishing 16,000 16,000 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency Information for the automotive and related industries 18,000 21,500

Aircraft Emissions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of how much carbon dioxide is produced on average by an individual aircraft per mile travelled, broken down by aircraft type; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced will vary by model of plane, aircraft types and according to factors such as journey lengths, passenger loadings and weather conditions. The information is therefore not collected in the form requested.
	However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs publishes estimates of CO2 emissions from aircraft, as set out in its Company Reporting Manual. The manual is available on the DEFRA website:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/envrp/gas/envr pgas-annexes,pdf

Arriva Trains Wales

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Arriva Trains Wales services were cancelled from Llansamlet railway station in 2005.

Derek Twigg: Responsibility of the management of the Arriva Trains Wales ('ATW') Franchise Agreement has transferred to the National Assembly for Wales from the Department for Transport. The Department for Transport does not hold this information.

Arriva Trains Wales

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 8 May 2006,  Official Report, column 21W, on railways, what issues were discussed at the meeting with Arriva Trains Wales; and what the outcome was.

Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport is still in discussion with interested parties on the implications of the planned First Great Western timetable changes for services between Cardiff and Swansea.

Birmingham New Street Station (Medical Assistance)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what emergency medical assistance is available at Birmingham New Street train station.

Derek Twigg: This is an operational matter for Network Rail, the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his question.
	John Armitt
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton street
	London NW1 2EE.

Departmental Documents

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much it cost to research, write and publish  (a) A New Deal for Transport (July 1998),  (b) Transport 2010the 10 Year Plan,  (c) Delivering Better Transport: Progress Report (December 2002) and  (d) The Future of Transport: a Network for 2030 (July 2004).

Gillian Merron: Research and writing of the latter three documents were carried out as part of civil servants' normal duties. Design and printing costs were:
	
		
			
			 Transport 2010The Ten-Year Plan 46,659 
			 Delivering Better TransportProgress Report 43,999 
			 The Future of Transport 52,377 
		
	
	Information on the costs of A New Deal for Transport cannot be traced without incurring disproportionate costs.

Departmental Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the carbon emissions of his Department; what commitment he has made to reducing such emissions; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: On 12 June Government launched new targets for sustainable operations on the Government estate, including ones to reduce carbon emissions. The Department for Transport is currently assessing its position against these targets and will publish performance data in due course.
	Our performance in respect of the 2004-05 financial year can be found in the Sustainable Development Commission's report Leading by example?.

Departmental Consultations

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his practice is regarding meeting, discussions with and taking into account the views and opinions of  (a) private individuals and  (b) representatives of organisations when drawing up and framing legislation to be introduced by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Department always seeks a full range of views when drawing up and framing legislation. Consultation is a key part of the policy-making process; both informal and formal. The Department holds regular meetings with representatives of the principal stakeholder groups for our policy areas and with relevant experts.
	Organisations and individuals can also contribute to the Department's formal consultations which abide by the code of conduct on consultation. Known stakeholders are alerted to the fact that a formal consultation is taking place. As required by the code, the Department then gives feedback on the responses received and on how the consultation process influenced the policy decision.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the value of the grant paid to Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive was in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: The total funds allocated by the Department for Transport to the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive are set out in the following table. These totals include funding for rail, bus services and local transport. In the case of rail and bus service funding, these allocations are entirely in the form of grant. Local Transport Plan funding covers integrated transport block (for small schemes), maintenance and major projects, and are allocated as a combination of capital grant and supported borrowing. 2005-06 figures are provisional and subject to audit.
	
		
			million 
			 2001-02 133.1 
			 2002-03 193.8 
			 2003-04 172.5 
			 2004-05 176.0 
			 2005-06 92.0

Hang-gliding

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safety regulations govern hang-gliding; what guidance he has issued on the subject; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: All aircraft in the United Kingdom, including hang-gliders, must be flown in accordance with the Rules of the Air Regulations 1996. There are no registration, design certification or pilot licensing requirements for hang-gliders. The Civil Aviation Authority has not issued any guidance on hang-gliding.

London-Swansea Rail Line

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of linking the main London-Swansea rail line to a rail link to Ebbw Vale.

Derek Twigg: This is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.

Low-emission Vehicles

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial incentives the Government provide for the purchase of low emission vehicles; and which vehicles on sale in the UK are eligible for those incentives.

Stephen Ladyman: The single biggest financial incentive for most drivers is provided by fuel duty. Motorists can make substantial fuel duty savings by choosing more efficient, less polluting vehicles.
	In 2001 vehicle excise duty for cars was reformed and is now graduated by carbon dioxide emissions. This gives a clear signal to motorists to choose less polluting vehicles. In Budget 2006 this framework was further reformed to strengthen environmental signals. Private and light goods vehicles first registered before March 2001 are taxed according to their engine size, in one of two bands.
	Company car tax is also graduated according to CO2 emissions, having been reformed in 2002.
	The CO2 ratings for new cars are published on the website of the Vehicle Certification Agency and in its publication New Car Fuel Consumption and Emission Figures (latest edition May 2006) and VED rates are published on the DVLA website.
	Concerning grants, I refer the hon. Member to the written statement Transport grant and advice programmes which I made on 7 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 30-32WS.

Media Analysis Reports

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department produces a monthly media analysis report.

Gillian Merron: The Department's use of the services provided by its media analysis contractor ended in February 2006. We are currently reviewing how we measure the effectiveness of our communications.
	All the media analysis reports can be found on the DfT website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_about/documents/divisionhomepage/610943.hcsp
	and at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_foi/documents/divisionhomepage/041073.hcsp

Motorway Surface Noise

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what criteria an area is assessed for its eligibility for motorway surface noise alleviation.

Stephen Ladyman: Resurfacing of strategic roads, including motorways, is carried out when maintenance of the existing surface is required on safety grounds or as a result of general wear and tear caused by traffic. When resurfacing is required, quieter surfacing materials are used as a matter of course.
	Noise barriers have been installed on existing strategic roads where serious and pressing cases of high levels of traffic noise experienced by nearby residents have been identified and where there has been no early prospect of quieter surfacing materials being laid. These cases, which were listed on 11 November 1999,  Official Report, columns 681-83W, were identified using criteria announced by the Minister on 22 March 1999, based on calculated noise levels and road opening dates.

Multi-Modal Studies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on  (a) progress with and  (b) plans for multi-modal studies.

Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that was provided on 10 October 2005,  Official Report, columns 96-98W.

Rail Fares

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passenger train operating companies permit the use of a cheap day return ticket all day.

Derek Twigg: Most train companies have a few cheap day return fares that are valid all day, usually well away from urban areas or for travel in the opposite direction to the peak passenger flow. Most cheap day return tickets carry a morning peak restriction, and cheap day returns set by at least five train operating companies also have an evening peak restriction. Cheap day return tickets are not regulated, so the Department does not collate information on these restrictions.

Rail Timetables

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek a review of the time of early morning trains on the Gloucester to Bristol line.

Derek Twigg: The Department of Transport has no current plans to seek a review of the times of trains on the Gloucester to Bristol line.

Railways (Crime)

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many crimes have been reported at each train station in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held by the Department for Transport. Information relating to crimes at railway stations is held by the British Transport Police who can be contacted at: British Transport Police, 25 Camden Road, London NW1 9LN.

Reading-Taunton Freight Line

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure that freight traffic from the Mendip quarries is re-routed via Bristol to enable essential repair work by high-output machinery on the Reading to Taunton line; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the owners of  (a) Whatley and  (b) Merehead Quarry on their use of freight trains at times when repairs could be effectively carried out to the Reading to Taunton line by high-output machinery;
	(3)  if he will ensure that the high-output machinery for repairing and improving rail track is used on the West country route between Reading and Exeter and not transported to other parts of the rail network until the work is completed.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 10 July 2006
	These are operational matters for Network Rail, the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his questions.
	John Armitt
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton street
	London NW1 2EE

Rural Bus Services

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rural bus services have been lost in Suffolk in each of the past five years.

Gillian Merron: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) do not keep the statistics requested by county. They do, however, compile this information according to traffic area. The number of new and cancelled bus services by traffic area from 1998-2005 were provided in an answer give by my predecessor on 16 February 2006,  Official Report, columns 2505-6W.
	The following table shows the figures for 2005-06 which are now available.
	
		
			  Traffic area  New  Cancelled 
			 North Eastern 578 554 
			 North Western 652 546 
			 Eastern (incorporating Suffolk) 579 454 
			 West Midlands 488 407 
			 Welsh 268 213 
			 Western 559 468 
			 South Eastern plus Metropolitan 210 157 
			 Scotland 385 511

Traffic Commissioners

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to include the monitoring of the operation of bus services in the remit of the Traffic Commissioners.

Gillian Merron: The Traffic Commissioners do already have powers to monitor local bus services. They can and do take action against operators who fail to run a bus service in accordance with the registered details of the service.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Alcoholism

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support his Department provides for children and families affected by alcoholism in  (a) England,  (b) the north-east,  (c) the Tees Valley and  (d) Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency.

Beverley Hughes: The Government are taking robust action to reduce significantly the numbers of young people affected by substance misuse, (including alcohol). The Department for Education and Skills, the Home Office and Department of Health agreed a joint approach to the development of universal, targeted and specialist services to prevent drug harm and to ensure that all children and young people are able to reach their potential. This will often cover a wide range of substances, including alcohol and volatile substances and is supported by a ring fenced budgetThe Young People's Substance Misuse Partnership Grant.
	In addition, the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy, led by the Home Office, aims to minimise harm caused by alcohol and tackle adult problem drinking. The strategy includes a work theme on young people and parents.
	Arrangements for safeguarding children and promoting their welfare have been strengthened through the Every Child Matters reform. The Children Act 2004 places a duty on local authority children's services departments to protect children from significant harm, including from alcohol misusing parents.
	Over the past two years the Government Office for the North East's Drugs and Crime team has led a major regional initiative aimed at developing effective multi-agency responses for children and families affected by parental substance misuse. All 12 local authorities are participating in this and many have developed local networks to plan and implement effective support services.
	Specifically within Tees Valley, five authorities have developed a range of services for children and families affected by parental substance misuse.
	Middlesbrough have just established a projectFamilies Firstdedicated to supporting families where parental alcohol or misuse threatens the safety and well-being of the children in the family. The Government are funding an evaluation of the project in order to develop the evidence base on interventions with these young people.

Alcoholism

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Department has spent in providing support for children and families affected by alcoholism in each of the last five years.

Beverley Hughes: DfES do not provide specific funding for this area of work. However, local partnerships have used a range of funding streams to develop and support children and families affected by alcoholism, including the Adult Pooled Treatment Budget, Young People's Substance Misuse Partnership Grant, High Focus Area capacity building fund, Neighbourhood Renewal Funding and mainstream funding for children's services.

Comprehensive Spending Review

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with  (a) the Treasury and  (b) the Cabinet Office regarding the pre-comprehensive spending review report; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: I have had and will continue to have wide-ranging and regular discussions with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury about preparations for the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, as a matter of key importance to my Department's medium and long-term planning.

Comprehensive Spending Review

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2006,  Official Report, column 666W, on the Comprehensive Spending Review, what the key challenges and issues for his Department are for the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 10 July 2006
	As my Department prepares for the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007, I will be seeking to continue our drive to improve outcomes for all children, and in particular the most disadvantaged; enhance the protection of vulnerable children (including those with special educational needs); improve school standards; and to improve the quality and choice of courses available to young people between the ages of 14 and 19. It will also be crucial that our Further and Higher Education systems are able to deliver the world class skills and culture of learning that will increase the nation's international competitiveness.

Dyslexia

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to allow children with dyslexia to be given extra time in public examinations; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The regulation of public examinations in England is the responsibility of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). The QCA requires awarding bodies to have arrangements in place for candidates with special requirements, including dyslexia. It is the responsibility of the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) on behalf of the awarding bodies to co-ordinate a common set of access arrangements. Candidates with dyslexia are able to benefit from extra time when taking public examinations if they fulfil the criteria set out in Regulations and Guidance relating to Candidates who are Eligible for Adjustments in Examinations, which is produced by the JCQ.

Examination Standards

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received on standards in grading of  (a) GCSEs and  (b) A levels; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department, working closely with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, has been in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders to take forward our proposals to look at ways of increasing stretch and challenge to test the abilities of the brightest students, as set out in our 14-19 White Paper on Education and Skills.

Further Education Courses

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students did not complete further education courses they had started in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: Figures on students failing to complete courses are best expressed as percentages. Some poorer quality data are excluded, so although rates are accurate, numbers are less so.
	Retention rates in Further Education (FE) institutions and completion rates in Work Based Learning (WBL) are published annually in a Learning and Skills Council Statistical First Release:
	(http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000649/index .shtml)
	FE figures for 1999/00 (the earliest year for which comparable data are available) to 2004/05 (the latest year for which data is published) are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Proportion of courses not completed in FE institutions Percentage 
			 1999/2000 22 
			 2000/01 20 
			 2001/02 17 
			 2002/03 17 
			 2003/04 15 
			 2004/05 14 
		
	
	WBL figures for 2000/01 to 2004/05 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Proportion of full frameworks not completed in WBL Percentage 
			 2001/02 76 
			 2002/03 73 
			 2003/04 69 
			 2004/05 60

Gap Years

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the university non-completion rate is of students having taken  (a) a deferred entry gap year,  (b) a non-deferred entry gap year and  (c) no gap year.

Bill Rammell: Since 1996/97, information on projected non-completion rates for higher education students has been published annually, initially by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and latterly by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), in Performance Indicators in Higher Education. The latest available figures giving overall non-completion rates for students starting full-time first degree courses in England are shown in the table. Figures that separately identify students who have taken gap years are not available. Figures published in 2005 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed that in 2003 the UK had one of the lowest higher education non-completion rates among OECD countries.
	
		
			  Percentage of UK domiciled full-time first degree students expected neither to obtain an award nor transfer English higher education institutions 
			  Students starting courses in:  Non-completion rate (%) 
			 1996/97 15.7 
			 1997/98 16.1 
			 1998/99 15.8 
			 1999/2000 15.9 
			 2000/01 15.0 
			 2001/02 13.8 
			 2002/03 13.9 
			  Source:  Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by HESA. For 2002/03, the projected outcomes summarise the pattern of movements of students at institutions between 2002/03 and 2003/04 and give the outcomes that would have been expected from starters in 2002/03 if progression patterns were to remain unchanged over the next few years. The HESA data show the proportion of entrants who are projected to: obtain a qualification (either a first degree or another undergraduate award); transfer to another HEI; neither obtain a qualification nor transfer (i.e. fail to complete the course).

Higher Education (Staff Pay)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether his Department has estimated the likely cost to public funds of the proposed pay offer to higher education staff in each of the next three years; how much of the additional funding of this sector over the next three years the pay award will account for; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Pay and conditions of service are subject to negotiations between the HE employers, their staff and their representative trade union bodies. The Government play no part in this. As such, determining the cost of the pay offer is a matter for individual institutions. Higher education receives funding from a variety of public and private sources. It is a matter for institutions, as autonomous bodies, to determine how they use the resources available to them. Public funding for 2008-09 and beyond will be determined through the comprehensive spending review.
	The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) has included estimates of the pay offer on its website (http://www.ucea.ac.uk/). UCEA's calculations estimate that the current pay offer will exceed the total additional income from variable fees, in steady state which we estimate will be 1.35 billion by 2010.

Language Colleges

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many registered language colleges were in operation in England in  (a) June 2004,  (b) June 2005 and  (c) June 2006.

Bill Rammell: The Department does not keep separate records on the number of registered language colleges in operation in England and Wales, and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

National Learning Grid

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the decision to discontinue the national learning grid.

Jim Knight: The National Grid for Learning (NGfL) was always a time limited strategy which was developed to deliver 1. a structure/architecture of educationally valuable content on the internet and 2. ICT infrastructure, services, support and training. The NGfL strategy evolved into the ICT in Schools strategy and now the e-Strategy: Harnessing TechnologyTransforming Learning and Children's Services, published in 2005 and lodged in the House of Commons Library. The e-Strategy takes the NGfL vision a step further looking at a much bigger picture for improving the entire education system and children's services capacity to make best use of technology to achieve better outcomes for children and learners.
	The British Educational and Communications Technology managed the NGfL portal as part of the overall NGfL strategy. A combination of overlaps with other online servicese.g. Teachernet and Curriculum Online, and the need to simplify brands and service, resulted in BECTA integrating the NGfL portal into its own online service. Visitors can search for specific educational content both through the BECTA online service and Curriculum Online.

School Playing Fields

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many school playing fields there were in  (a) 1997 and  (b) 2006; and how many square feet this represented in each year;
	(2)  how many square feet of property belonging to educational establishments has been sold since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not held centrally. Data on school playing fields were requested from local authorities in 2001 and 2003 but the data were incomplete and of variable quality, and it was not possible to accurately assess the number and area of school playing fields.
	Since 1998, there have been 228 applications that involve the sale of an area of grassed land that could comprise a school sports pitch. Of these, 43 have been rejected or the application withdrawn. 175 applications have been approved and the other 10 are still under consideration. Of the 175 approved applications, 73 related to playing fields at closed or closing schools. Prior to 1998 there was no regulation of the sale of school playing fields at local authority controlled schools.

Special Educational Needs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the name and address is of each special needs school in  (a) Essex and  (b) each London borough; who the head teacher of each is; how many pupils are attending each; when each opened; and when each was last inspected by Ofsted.

Jim Knight: A table detailing the name and address of each special needs school in  (a) Essex and  (b) each London borough; together with the name of the head teacher; the number of pupils; the opening date; and when each was last inspected by Ofsted has been placed in the Commons Library.
	The figures given in the table include special schools maintained by local authorities together with non-maintained special schools and independent special schools. Ofsted have included the inspection type for the hon. Member's information. It is regretted that data on school opening dates are not available to the Department prior to 1997.

University Lecturers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the percentage change in the number of university lecturers was in each year since 1997.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Academic staff( 1)  employed in English Higher Education Institutions 
			  Academic year  Number of academic staff  % change 
			 1997/98 104,470  
			 1998/99 106,210 1.7 
			 1999/2000 110,615 4.1 
			 2000/01 114,060 3.1 
			 2001/02 116,785 2.4 
			 2002/03 119,495 2.3 
			 2003/04 (2) 124,140  
			 2004/05 134,130 8.0 
			 (1) Staff figures are on the basis of staff with active contracts in the reporting period. (2) Up until 2002/03 the staff record only included academic staff with a full-time equivalent greater than 25 per cent; as from 2003/04, all academic staff were included. Therefore, the numbers for 2003/04 and 2004/05 are not directly comparable with those for earlier years. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) staff record data.

Vocational Education and Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which Vocational Education and Training projects in the UK are funded by the EU.

Phil Hope: The European Commission provided funding between 2000-05 to UK organisations for 840 work placement and 129 development projects under the EU's vocational training programme, Leonardo da Vinci.
	The European Social Fund supports a range of labour market activities including vocational education and training. In 2000-06 it contributed to the funding of 20 Structural Fund programmes in the UK.

Women Engineers

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of women studying engineering at university level in each of the last 10 years; what employment opportunities in engineering were available on completion of their course; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) report the number of women studying engineering at university level over the past 10 years in England as follows:
	
		
			   Number of women 
			 1994/05 8,265 
			 1995/06 8,385 
			 1996/07 7,586 
			 1997/08 7,435 
			 1998/99 7,500 
			 1999/2000 7,530 
			 2000/01 7,895 
			 2001/02 7,810 
			 2002/03 7,352 
			 2003/04 7,910 
			 2004/05 7,325 
		
	
	This represents a small increase, from 10.6 per cent. in 1994/95 to 11.8 per cent. in 2004/05, in the proportion of women studying engineering subjects.
	With respect to employment opportunities in engineering the Destinations of Leavers data collected by HESA over the period 1994/952003/04, show that:
	12.1 per cent. of female graduates in engineering entered work only;
	15.8 per cent. went into a combination of work and further study; and
	14.5 per cent. went into further study only.
	The key initiative of the Government's strategy on women in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) is the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET (UKRC), funded through the Office of Science and Innovation (OSI) with 6.7 million from the science budget plus 325,000 for a dedicated undergraduate package from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).
	The Centre carries out a co-ordinated strategy, including:
	championing best practice;
	a recognition scheme for good SET employers;
	raising the profile of women in SET;
	support for women undergraduates (DfES have committed 315,000 to this project);
	supporting SET returners;
	setting up the GetSET database (this holds contact details for women who have agreed to promote SET topics and the role of women in SET);
	co-ordinating the work of the women in SET organisations;
	and pump-priming for innovative initiatives e.g. mentoring and networking.
	There are also examples of positive action by employers. Where Women Want to Work.com website scrutinises the gender policies of companies against a set of attributes one of which is innovative recruitment. Some examples are:
	Accenture ensures women are represented at all the graduate recruitment events and at interviews and they try and allocate female buddies at those reaching second round interviews for guidance to ensure the process is as supportive as possible;
	BP run gender and diversity workshops for interviewers and assessors involved in university and other recruitment;
	Shell advertise in Cosmopolitan magazine to broaden their market reach and invited university careers advisers and female students to a women's network conference and in 2005 held Working Women's Roadshows at four UK universities.

Women Engineers

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps the Government are taking to encourage women to enrol on national engineering programmes at university.

Bill Rammell: The Government are committed to increasing the number of young people taking science and maths at advanced level and progressing to study science and engineering at university and beyond. 'The Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-2014: Next Steps' published in March 2006, sets out a range of measures to support this. We have invested just over 7 million in the UK resource centre for women in science, engineering and technology (SET) which aims to increase the participation of women in SET subjects and funds a number of initiatives to increase the participation of women on undergraduate engineering programmes.

Written Questions

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of written questions from hon. Members to his Department in the last 12 months were answered within  (a) one week,  (b) two weeks and  (c) one month of tabling.

Bill Rammell: The Department's parliamentary question tracking system is unable to break the data down as requested. The answer could be supplied only at a disproportionate cost.
	Departments aim to ensure that Members receive a substantive response to their named day question on the named day, and endeavour to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled.

PRIME MINISTER

Advertising Campaigns

John Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister what advertising campaigns his office has run since July 2004; and what the  (a) date and  (b) cost was of each.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. McFadden) today.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Fraud Trials

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Solicitor-General what the Government's plans are for the use of juries in fraud trials.

Mike O'Brien: We intend to press ahead with our proposals to change the system for serious and complex fraud trials so that they can be heard without a jury to ensure justice is done.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Correspondence

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to be able to respond to the letter to his predecessor of 7 November 2005 from the hon. Member for Esher and Walton on the campaign by the RSPCA to reduce the noise levels of fireworks.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Due to an error the hon. Member's letter has been mislaid. A copy of the letter has been requested and we will respond shortly, with an apology for the delay.

Nuclear Power Stations

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the implications for energy policy of the cracks in the reactor core at  (a) Hinkley Point and  (b) other advanced gas-cooled reactor power stations.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 10 July 2006
	None. Decisions about the continued operation of each of the UK's AGRs are a matter for the operator, British Energy, subject to rigorous regulatory oversight by the independent safety regulator, HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

Post Office Charging

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Post Office has to change the basis of their charging for letter delivery to take account of letter size rather than weight; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Postcomm, the independent regulator for postal services has agreed that Royal Mail's new Pricing in Proportion (PiP) will be introduced from August 2006.
	Royal Mail is mounting a substantial publicity campaign to explain the changes. Postwatch, the consumer body and Postcomm will be monitoring the implementation closely to safeguard the interest of customers.

Post Office Services

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why small post offices are no longer able to provide television licences; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The BBC awarded Paypoint the contract for over-the-counter sales of television licences. The decision was a commercial one made by the BBC as the television licensing authority looking to the interests of licence fee payers and seeking to ensure the best deal for the public in this capacity.

TREASURY

Advance Market Commitment

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  which G8 countries support the Advance Market Commitment concept;
	(2)  which organisations have made representations to his Department  (a) in support of and  (b) against the Advance Market Commitment concept;
	(3)  what representations he has  (a) made to and  (b) received from his G8 counterparts on implementing the pilot Advance Market Commitment confirmed by the Italian Finance Minister at the G8 Finance Ministers' meeting in June;
	(4)  what progress has been made towards the launch of an Advance Market Commitment pilot project by the end of 2006;
	(5)  what funds the UK has allocated for the G8 commitment for the launch of an Advance Market Commitment pilot project by the end of 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: The UK has been working with other G8 countries on Advance Market Commitments (AMCs), which are feasible, innovative, and cost-effective market-based tools in the fight against global disease and poverty. Working with the World Bank and GAVI, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, the G8 have conducted extensive outreach and consultation with stakeholders and experts in the global health community. At their June Meeting in St. Petersburg, G8 Finance Ministers stated that they look forward to a successful launch of the AMC pilot project by the end of this year. The cost of a pilot AMC will be determined following the choice of disease and further technical discussions with partner countries.

Arms Imports

Nick Harvey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2006,  Official Report, column 5767W, on AK-47s, what UK custom entry clearance has been issued to Procurement Management Services Ltd. for the import into the UK from Bosnia of assault rifles and other types of small arms since June 2003.

Dawn Primarolo: Due to taxpayer confidentiality HMRC cannot provide the information requested.

Bank Accounts

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of adults in  (a) Beverley and Holderness and  (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire currently have a bank account; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Balls: The most recent data available that allow assessment to be made of the number of households with no access to a bank account are the Family Resources Survey from 2002-03. This indicates that 8 per cent. of households in the United Kingdom had no bank account of any kind. This equated to 1.9 million households containing around 2.8 million adults. These data are broken down to Government Office regional level. This shows 9 per cent. of households in Yorkshire and the Humber were unbanked.
	In December 2004, the Government and the banks agreed to work together towards the goal of halving the number of adults in households with no access to a bank account of any kind and of making significant progress within two years. The Financial Inclusion Taskforce has been asked to monitor progress. The Taskforce recently made its first annual report, which concluded that steady progress has been made towards the goal but also encouraged banks to continue to address the difficulties faced in opening a bank account.

Child Trust Fund

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total amount spent on advertising Child Funds was in each financial year since their introduction.

Edward Balls: Advertising for the Child Trust Fund began in January 2005.
	The total media spend on advertising the Child Trust Fund (including media buying fees and excluding VAT) was as follows:
	
		
			  Financial Year  Spend ( million) 
			 2004-05 3.2 
			 2005-06 5.9

Child Trust Fund

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children were eligible to receive a voucher for a child trust fund in each financial year since their introduction.

Edward Balls: The Child Trust Fund became operational from the start of 2005-06 and all children born on or after 1 September 2002 with a child benefit award are eligible. The number of children eligible, by complete financial year, to receive a Child Trust Fund voucher is in the table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Eligible children (Thousand) 
			 2002-03 395 
			 2003-04 687 
			 2004-05 680 
			 2005-06 (1)644 
			 (1 )Provisional.

Civil Service

Ian Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil service posts have been reduced in each UK civil service Department in Wales under the terms of the efficiency programme announced in the July 2004 spending review.

Stephen Timms: HM Treasury does not centrally hold data showing which Departments have made work force reductions in Wales as part of the SR04 efficiency programme. Departments are responsible for managing their work force strategies and for implementing their SR04 work force reduction targets.

Civil Service

Ian Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the UK civil service post reductions announced in the July 2004 spending review will be made in Wales by 2008.

Stephen Timms: HM Treasury does not centrally hold data showing which Departments intend to make work force reductions in Wales as part of the SR04 efficiency programme. Departments are responsible for managing their work force strategies and for implementing their SR04 work force reduction targets.

Civil Service

Ian Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the net change will be in the number of civil service posts in Wales in each of the Departments within which posts are being transferred in accordance with the Lyons Review.

Stephen Timms: HM Treasury does not centrally hold information on the net number of civil servants employed in Wales broken down by Department.
	However by April 2006 more than 1,600 posts had been relocated to Wales in accordance with the Lyons Review. This included more than 1,100 DWP posts, 200 Home Office posts, 150 ONS posts and more than 100 HMRC posts. Of the 1,600 relocated posts, 510 have moved to Wrexham.

Customs National Strike Force

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times members of the Customs National Strike Force have visited Wales in each year since 2003.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of times members of the Customs National Strike Force have visited Wales since 2003 are:
	
		
			   Visits 
			 2003-04 6 
			 2004-05 4 
			 2005-06 5

Customs Officers (Wales)

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many customs officers  (a) are based in Wales and  (b) have responsibility for Wales but are based outside Wales.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is as follows;
	 (a) At 1 April 2006 the full time equivalent number of staff based in Wales and on the former HM Customs and Excise payroll was 592.7
	 (b) This information is not available.

Death Certificates

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2006,  Official Report, column 580W, on death certificates, under what circumstances a correction to the death register can legitimately be made  (a) before a death register has been completed,  (b) after a death register has been deposited with the Superintendent Registrar for a district and  (c) at any other point; and who is entitled to authorise such a correction.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Dennis Roberts, dated 11 July 2006:
	The Registrar General for England and Wales has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question pursuant to the Answer of 29th June 2006, Official Report, column 580W, on death certificates, under what circumstances a correction to the death register can legitimately be made (a) before a death register has been completed, (b) after a death register has been deposited with the Superintendent Registrar for a district and (c) at any other point; and who is entitled to authorise such a correction. I am replying in her absence. (83675)
	The only circumstances in which a correction to the death register can legitimately be made is if it can be shown that it contains incorrect information. This is applicable regardless of whether the registrar of births and deaths or the Superintendent Registrar has custody of the register.
	Local registration officers have some powers of correction depending on the nature of the error, e.g. they can correct a simple copying mistake. More serious errors, e.g. a major change that might affect the identity or status of a person or event requires the authority of the Registrar General.
	Where an error is found in a death entry compiled from information supplied by a Coroner following an inquest, the registrar or Superintendent Registrar may not correct anything, other than a copying error in the register, without receiving either an amended or fresh certificate from the Coroner. However, where the error relates to the cause of death this can only be corrected if the Coroner's inquest is quashed and a new inquest is held. Only if the death was originally registered on the basis of a coroner's certificate after inquest adjourned, and the Coroner then resumes the inquest, may he or she certify to the registrar or Superintendent Registrar an amendment to the cause of death.

Death Certificates

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances a registrar can register the death of an individual whose death is still subject to  (a) an inquest by a coroner and  (b) an inquiry that has led to the adjournment of a coroner's inquest under section 17A of the Coroners Act 1988; what legislation determines these circumstances; and whether these circumstances are unchanged from July 2003.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Dennis Roberts, dated 11 July 2006:
	The Registrar General for England and Wales has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning under what circumstances a registrar can register a death of an individual whose death is still subject to (a) an inquest by a coroner and (b) an inquiry that has led to the adjournment of a coroner's inquest under section 17A of the Coroners Act 1988; what legislation determines these circumstances; and whether these circumstances are unchanged from July 2003. I am replying in her absence. (83734)
	A death which is subject to an inquest by a coroner can only be registered once the inquest has concluded or been adjourned. In either circumstance the coroner is required to send a death certificate to the registrar. Sections 11, 16 and 17 of the Coroners Act 1988 contain the relevant provision. On receipt of the certificate the death can be registered under section 23 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953. There have been no changes to the relevant legislation since 2003.

Departmental Artwork

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the 10 most expensive pieces of artwork are which are owned or held by his Department; what the value is of each; and who the owner is of each.

John Healey: The 10 most valuable pieces of artwork are three antique silver ink stands valued at 200,000 each, and seven antique silver candle holders valued at 60,000 each, all of which are owned by the Treasury.
	These pieces of artwork are reported as part of the net book values disclosed in the Departmental Resource accounts for 2005-06.

Departmental Expenditure

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total amount spent by his Department on  (a) mobile phones and  (b) secure mobile phones was in each year since 1997.

John Healey: I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs. Villiers) on 16 January 2006,  Official Report, column 1157W.

Departmental Expenditure

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on overseas travel by employees of his Department in the last year for which figures are available.

John Healey: For the cost of overseas travel for the Treasury in 2005-06, including Ministers' travel, I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) on 12 June 2006,  Official Report, column 926W.

Departmental Expenditure

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on refurbishments and building work in his private office in each year since 1997.

John Healey: All of the space occupied by the Treasury in 1 Horse Guards Road was refurbished in a project that was completed in 2002. The cost of this work is not available by individual offices.

Departmental Expenditure

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on departmental refurbishments in his Department in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The costs of the refurbishment of the Treasury building at 1 Horse Guards Road were given in answer to the hon. Member for South Norfolk (Mr. Bacon) on 5 February 2002,  Official Report, column 841W.

Departmental Expenditure

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on cavity wall insulation in his Department in each financial year since 1997-98.

John Healey: Nothing. The Treasury building at 1 Horse Guards Road has solid walls.

Departmental Wine Cellar

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has its own wine cellar.

John Healey: The Treasury does not have a wine cellar.

Energy Audit

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the last time was that an energy audit was conducted in his Department; and if he will place a copy of the results of that audit in the Library.

John Healey: Energy usage in the Treasury building at 1 Horse Guards Road is monitored on a regular basis as part of an environmental management system that is certified to ISO 14001 standards.

Energy Efficiency

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total amount spent on energy efficiency measures in his Department's buildings in London was in each year since 1997.

John Healey: This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Export Control

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what budget HM Customs has allocated to policing the Export Control Act 2002 in 2006-07; how many personnel are engaged in policing the Act; and of what type.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs does not allocate a separate budget to policing the Export Control Act 2002. HMRC personnel are multifunctional and deal with a wide range of different controls under UK and EC Regulations. On 25 May 2006, HMRC advised the Quadripartite Select Committee that in any one year between 60 and 100 staff years were expended on enforcing strategic export controls. This includes personnel involved in criminal investigation, intelligence, detection, policy advice, entry-processing, and local and national compliance.

Financial Literacy

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with representatives of Citizens Advice on financial exclusion; and what partnerships he is aiming to put in place to improve financial literacy in  (a) schools and  (b) wider society.

Edward Balls: My department has regular contact with Citizens Advice on financial inclusion issues.
	Improving financial literacy is being taken forward through the FSA led National Strategy for Financial Capability. The FSA is working in partnership not only with Government, but also with the financial services industry and the voluntary sector, including Citizens Advice, to create a step change in financial capability in schools and wider society.

Gross National Product

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the gross national product was at  (a) (i) current and (ii) constant prices,  (b) factor cost and  (c) market price in each year since 1976.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 July 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question requesting gross national product (GNP) annual data going back to 1976. I am replying in her absence. (83454)
	Under the current system of national accounts introduced in the UK in September 1998 (based on the European System of Accounts 1995), the concept of gross national product was replaced by that of gross national income (GNI). Additionally the concept of factor cost is no longer used and GNI figures are only available at market prices.
	Table A shows the most recent estimates for GNI in both current prices and volume terms.
	
		
			  Table A 
			   million 
			   GNI at current market prices  GNI at market price in chained volume terms 
			 1976 125,872 559,951 
			 1977 144,628 569,060 
			 1978 167,246 596,749 
			 1979 195,845 613,694 
			 1980 227,681 605,507 
			 1981 250,503 598,968 
			 1982 273,739 610,224 
			 1983 301,237 636,678 
			 1984 323,907 653,341 
			 1985 351,782 673,401 
			 1986 380,348 695,940 
			 1987 417,237 726,138 
			 1988 466,638 767,067 
			 1989 509,962 783,001 
			 1990 550,043 786,975 
			 1991 580,261 782,208 
			 1992 607,849 791,794 
			 1993 637,955 808,938 
			 1994 681,263 845,568 
			 1995 716,986 858,983 
			 1996 762,853 884,595 
			 1997 811,797 926,168 
			 1998 869,706 971,737 
			 1999 904,737 990,758 
			 2000 954,004 1,028,387 
			 2001 1,005,313 1,058,873 
			 2002 1,069,839 1,100,663 
			 2003 1,132,938 1,132,938 
			 2004 1,202,075 1,172,617 
			 2005 1,253,561 1,188,711 
			  Note: These figures are based on data published on 30 June 2006

Health Statistics (Yeovil)

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the most recent rate is of  (a) cancers and  (b) stroke in (i) Yeovil constituency, (ii) Somerset county and (iii) the South West.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 July 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the most recent rate is of  (a) cancers and  (b) stroke in (i) Yeovil constituency, (ii) Somerset county and (iii) the South West. I am replying in her absence.
	 A: Cancersincidence
	The latest available rates for newly diagnosed cases of cancer (incidence) are for the year 2003. Incidence rates are not available centrally for parliamentary constituencies. Cancer incidence rates for all malignant cancers excluding non-melanoma skin cancer for 2003 are given in Table 1 for (i) Somerset South local authority, (ii) Somerset county and (iii) the South West government office region.
	 B: Strokeincidence
	There is no complete register of stroke cases. Information is available centrally on emergency admission to hospital from the NHS Hospital Episode System (HES), and on death registrations.
	Figures on emergency admissions to hospital for strokes can be found on the Clinical and Health Outcomes Knowledge Base website: http://www.nchod.nhs.uk/. (Table reference numbers: 10C_5281SR7CM_04-V2 (males) 10C_5281SR7CF_04-V2 (females)). Figures are available for England, Government Office Regions, Strategic Health Authorities, Local Authorities and Primary Care Organisations. The latest year for which data are available is for the financial year 2003/04.
	 C: Cancers and stroke-mortality
	Mortality rates for parliamentary constituencies cannot be provided because population estimates are not available for these areas. Figures in Table 2 are provided for the local authorities making up the requested constituency.
	The introduction of ICD-10 for coding cause of death in England and Wales in 2001 means that data for cancer are not completely comparable with data for years before this date. The effect of the change in classification in 2001 on deaths from these causes is described in a report published in May 2002:  Office for National Statistics. Results of the ICD-10 bridge coding study, England and Wales, 1999. Health Statistics Quarterly 14 (2002), 75-83.
	
		
			  Table 1: Incidence rates( 1)  per million population for all malignant cancers( 2)  registered in Somerset South local authority, the county of Somerset and South West government office region, 2003 
			   All cancers excluding nmsc 
			 Somerset South 3,861 
			 Somerset 3,752 
			 South West 3,890 
			 (1) Rates per million population standardised to the European Standard Population. (2) All malignant cancers are defined by codes C00-C97 excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (nmsc) code C44 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD 10).  Source: Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Death rates( 1)  for cancer and stroke( 2)  for Somerset South local authority, the county of Somerset and South West government office region( 3) , 2004( 4) 
			   Death rates 
			   Cancer  Stroke 
			 Somerset South 1,583 449 
			 Somerset 1,637 488 
			 South West 1,664 539 
			 (1) Rates per 1,000,000 population standardised to the European Standard Population. (2) The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) The codes used are listed: Cancer (malignant neoplasms)C00-C97 Stroke(cerebrovascular disease)160-169 Deaths were selected using the original underlying cause. (3 )Usual residents of this area. (4 )Deaths registered in each calendar year.

Health Statistics (Yeovil)

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the most recent death rate from heart disease was in  (a) Yeovil constituency,  (b) Somerset county and  (c) the South West.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 July 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the most recent death rate from heart disease was in  (a) Yeovil constituency  (b) Somerset county and  (c) the South West. I am replying in her absence. (83393)
	Mortality rates for parliamentary constituencies cannot be provided as requested because population estimates are not available for these areas. The latest year for which figures are available is 2004 and these are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Death rates( 1)  from coronary heart disease( 2)  for South Somerset local authority, Somerset County and South West Government Office Region( 3) , 2004( 4) 
			   Coronary heart disease 
			 Somerset South  
			 Somerset 841 
			 South West 931 
			 (1) Rates per 1,000,000 population standardised to the European Standard Population. (2 )The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). The codes used are listed: Coronary heart diseaseICD-10 120-125 Deaths were selected using the original underlying cause. (3) Usual residents of these areas. The local authority of South Somerset comprises the whole of Yeovil constituency plus part of Somerton and Frome constituency. Data for the county of Somerset excludes figures for the unitary authorities of Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset, created in 1996. (4)Deaths registered in 2004.

Health Statistics (Yeovil)

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the most recent  (a) teenage pregnancy rate and  (b) life expectancy was in (i) Yeovil constituency, (ii) Somerset county and (iii) the South West.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 July 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the most recent (a) teenage pregnancy rate and (b) life expectancy was in (i) Yeovil constituency, (ii) Somerset County and (iii) the South West. (83394)
	(a) Information on teenage conceptions is routinely published for local authorities and strategic health authorities. Figures cannot be provided by Parliamentary Constituency because of the risk of disclosing individual's information, due to small differences in boundaries between the Parliamentary Constituency and the local authority.
	The most recent year for which figures are available is 2004 and these are shown in the table below. Figures for 2004 are provisional.
	(b) Figures for life expectancy at birth for English regions and local authorities are published annually by ONS based on three-year rolling averages. The most recent figures, for 2002-2004, are shown in the table below.
	
		
			  (a) Teenage conception rates for South Somerset LA( 1) , Somerset county and the South West, 2004( 2) 
			  Area  Rate 
			 South Somerset LA 32 
			 Somerset county 32 
			 South West 34 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Life expectancy at birth (years) by sex, for South Somerset LA( 1) , Somerset county and the South West, 2002-04( 3) 
			   Males  Females 
			 South Somerset LA 78 82 
			 Somerset county 78 82 
			 South West 78 82 
			 (1) The local authority of South Somerset comprises the whole of Yeovil constituency plus part of Somerton and Frome constituency. (2) Conceptions for 2004 are provisional. (3) Results are based on deaths registered in 2002-04 and mid-year population estimates for these years.

HM Revenue and Customs Offices

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the effects on compliance of  (a) closing and  (b) reducing staff at local HM Revenue and Customs offices; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: In the 2004 Spending Review, the Government set HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) challenging performance targets for the years 2005 to 2008. They have also been set stretching targets to achieve resource efficiencies following the merger of the two former tax departments in April 2005. HMRC is making good progress against all these objectives, as outlined in their Spring Departmental Report 2006 (Cm 6832).

Master Netting Agreement

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2006,  Official Report, column 403W, on the Master Netting Agreement, whether the European Central Bank Guidelines preclude the Government from changing its own practices as the baseline upon which its own guidelines have been set.

Edward Balls: No, as ECB guidelines are applicable to members of the Eurosystem and are not binding on the UK while it is not a member of the system.

Ministerial Group on Youth Volunteering

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his announcement in the pre-Budget report on the Ministerial Group on youth volunteering, how many times the group has met; who  (a) attends and  (b) chairs this group; and how many meetings have been attended by Rod Aldridge.

Dawn Primarolo: The ministerial group on youth volunteering has met twice. The Chancellor chairs this group and the Departments represented at these meetings have been the Department for Education and Skills, Home Office, the Cabinet Office, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Rod Aldridge has not attended any of these meetings.

National Insurance Contributions

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints were received about the National Insurance Contribution system in each of the last nine years.

Dawn Primarolo: Correspondence about complaints is dealt with across HMRC and the information requested is not available, except at disproportionate cost.

Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions he has visited each region in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

John Healey: The Chancellor has made a number of visits to the regions and nations of the United Kingdom and will be continuing to do so over the coming months.

Parliamentary Questions

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many written answers to parliamentary questions to the Department have taken longer than 10 days to answer in each year since 1997.

John Healey: 10 days has no particular significance in relation to the answering of parliamentary questions. Indeed, as any period of 10 days will include at least one weekend and may also include other days on which the House of Commons is not sitting and questions cannot be answered, it is a meaningless yardstick against which to measure performance in answering questions. With that important caveat, the information sought by the hon. Member for each session since 1997-98 is given as follows:
	
		
			  Session  Answers given after more than 10 days  Percentage of all answers 
			 1997-98 1,110 28.0 
			 1998-99 653 30.8 
			 1999-2000 584 22.1 
			 2000-01 389 32.2 
			 2001-02 1,237 22.5 
			 2002-03 940 25.7 
			 2003-04 701 22.1 
			 2004-05 279 20.1 
			 2005-06(1) 1,164 23.6 
		
	
	The proportion of written answers given by the Treasury within the timescales set by the House (that is to say, on the nominated day in the case of named day questions and within a working week of tabling for ordinary questions) in each of the last three sessions is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Session  Named day questions  Ordinary questions 
			 2003-04 74.7 79.6 
			 2004-05 79.4 84.3 
			 2005-06(1) 72.6 79.0 
			 (1) Up to 30 June 2006

People Trafficking (Wales)

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suspected cases of illegal people trafficking in Wales were reported to HM Customs and Revenue in each year since 2003.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC do not keep records of such cases in searchable form; but the Department pass all relevant reports to the UK Immigration Service or the Serious Organised Crime Agency who have responsibility for countering people trafficking, for follow-up action.

Pound Sterling (Purchasing Power)

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the purchasing power is of the pound sterling compared with  (a) 1976,  (b) 1986 and  (c) 1996.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 July 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what the purchasing power is of the pound sterling compared with  (a) 1976,  (b) 1986 and  (c) 1996.1 am replying in her absence. (83802)
	A pound in May 2006 is worth:
	 (a) 20p compared with its 1976 purchasing value;
	 (b) 49p compared with its 1986 purchasing value; and
	 (c) 77p compared with its 1996 purchasing value.

Recycling

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recycling facilities are available in his Department; and how many categories of waste are recycled by his Department.

John Healey: Recycling facilities for nine categories of waste are available at various locations within the Treasury building at 1 Horse Guards Road.

Tax Avoidance

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reduce tax avoidance opportunities for company directors drawing salary in dividend form; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: As stated at Budget 2006, the Government believe that all individuals and businesses must pay their fair share of NICs and tax, irrespective of legal form. The Government will continue to review the tax and NICs systems to ensure that this is the case and will bring forward proposals for discussion that are consistent with simplicity for compliant businesses, support for businesses in their aspirations to grow and maintaining the attractiveness of the UK as a business location.

Taxation Revenue

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised in taxation in each year since 1976; and what the budget surplus or deficit was in each year.

Stephen Timms: Data on tax revenues and Government borrowing from 1976 onwards are available in the Key Fiscal Aggregates table and Table C1 in the Public Finances Databank. This is available on the Her Majesty's Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm_treasury.gov.uk/economic_data_and_tools/finance_spending_statistics/pubsec_finance/psf_statistics.cfm

Unemployment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) total and  (b) percentage rate of (i) unemployment, (ii) long-term unemployment and (iii) youth unemployment was in each constituency in each of the last 10 years, grouped by region.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 11 July 2006:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (79828)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment for local areas from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Tables 1 to 5, attached, show estimates for each parliamentary constituency in great Britain, for the 12 month periods ending in February from 1997 to 2004 from the annual LFS, and for the 12 months ending December 2004 from the APS. Table 1 shows the number of unemployed aged 16 and over resident in each constituency; Table 2 shows unemployment rates; Table 3 shows the number of long-term (more than 12 months) unemployed; Table 4 shows the number of unemployed aged 16 to 24 and Table 5 shows the unemployment rate for those aged 16 to 24.
	These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Changes in the estimates from year-to-year should be treated with particular caution.
	ONS also compiles statistics for local areas of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Tables 6 to 10, attached, show annual averages for claimants of JSA resident in each constituency in the United Kingdom for 1996 to 2005. Table 6 shows the total number of claimants; Table 7 shows the number of claimants as a proportion of the resident population of working age; Table 8 shows the number of claimants claiming JSA for over 12 months; Table 9 shows the number claiming over 12 months as a proportion of the working-age population and Table 10 shows the number of people aged 18 to 24 claiming JSA. Proportions for the 18 to 24 age group are not available for parliamentary constituencies.
	Since the information is so extensive, copies of these tables have been placed in the House of Commons Library.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Correspondence

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to reply to the letter from Mrs. Pauline Penton, a constituent of the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, sent on 19 January.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 3 July 2006
	I apologise for the delay in replying to my hon. Friend's letter. I will ensure a reply is sent as a matter of urgency.

Illegal Waste

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of waste he estimates was illegally fly-tipped in each year since 1992, broken down by the nature of the waste.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA has worked with the Environment Agency to establish Flycapture, the national database on fly-tipping, which has been operational since April 2004. Before this database was established, no national data were available on illegal waste disposal or fly-tipping.
	Flycapture collects summary data by waste-type, land-type and size of incident at local authority level only. Data on the volume of waste fly-tipped are not available, however English waste collection authorities reported a total of 891,170 incidents between April 2004 and March 2005. It is also important to note that the data are probably an underestimate and will increase as authorities get better at collecting and reporting fly-tipping incidents.
	The number of incidents of fly-tipping by waste-type, reported to Flycapture by English local authorities between April 2004 and March 2005, are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Waste Type  Number of incidents 
			 Animal Carcass 7,481 
			 Green 38,700 
			 Vehicle Parts 14,651 
			 White Goods 52,933 
			 Other Electrical 17,664 
			 Tyres 22,028 
			 Asbestos 2,627 
			 Clinical 2,0.53 
			 Construction/Demolition/Excavation 46,483 
			 Black Bags Commercial 36,265 
			 Black Bags Household 234,144 
			 Chemical Drums Oil Fuel 3,734 
			 Other Household 256,923 
			 Other Commercial 24,529 
			 Other 130,445 
		
	
	The number of incidents of fly-tipping by size, reported to Flycapture by English local authorities between April 2004 and March 2005, are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Size of Fly-tip  Number of incidents 
			 Single Item 315,818 
			 Car Boot or Less 242,335 
			 Small Van Load 189,793 
			 Transit Van Load 94,132 
			 Tipper Lorry Load 19,441 
			 Significant Multi Loads 5,699

Pet Fairs

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action he proposes to take in respect of pet fairs following the case of R (Haynes)  v Stafford borough council.

Ben Bradshaw: My Department is considering any implications the recent judgment may have on our proposals to regulate pet fairs.

Recycling

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to take steps to bring forward penalties for those who fail to recycle their household waste.

Ben Bradshaw: Local authorities have existing powers, under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to require householders to put waste for collection, including recyclables, in specified receptacles. Where householders fail, without reasonable excuse, to follow the authority's instructions on these matters, they can be issued with a fixed penalty notice under section 47ZA or be liable to prosecution and a summary fine upon conviction under section 46 of the Act.

Recycling

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice he offers to local authorities in dispute with households over misuse of new waste and recycling collection schemes.

Ben Bradshaw: Getting people to change their behaviour is a challenge, and recycling is no exception. While there are millions of dedicated recyclers, there are still too many families and people who are not engaging with local waste reduction, recycling and composting schemes.
	The Government are continuing to investigate options for influencing householder behaviour, and we have recently supported a series of local authority pilots to encourage householders to reduce, re-use and recycle their waste through positive incentives.
	Ultimately, if mediation doesn't work and a householder either fails to put the correct material into the appropriate receptacle for collection, or fails to comply with other instructions with regard to putting the receptacle out for collection or bringing it back onto their property after it has been emptied, the local authority can prosecute them for breaches of section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. These offences carry a maximum fine of 1,000. In addition, the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill contains proposals for the issuing of fixed penalty notices to those breaching sections 46 and 47 of the 1990 Act.

Water Companies

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what allowance Ofwat made for each water company for capital works in each of the last five years for which figures were available; and what the value was of the capital works completed by each water company in each year.

Ian Pearson: Ofwat makes assumptions on the capital investment required by companies at each price review for the ensuing five-year period.
	Ofwat has only published annual expenditure against its assumptions for 2004-05. The following table gives information for the five-year period 2000-05. Ofwat will publish data for 2005-06 later this year, following analysis of the June return submission from companies.
	The regulatory regime provides incentives for companies to out-perform Ofwat's assumptions. Companies retain the benefit from these savings until the next price review when price limits are reset and Ofwat takes the savings into account.
	
		
			  2004-05 prices ( million) 
			   Total volume of investment activity 2000-01 to 2004-05 
			   Assumed  Actual 
			  Water and sewerage service   
			 Anglian 1,511 1,334 
			 Dwr Cymru 1,332 1,194 
			 Northumbrian 1,059 1,003 
			 Severn Trent 2,268 1,914 
			 South West 902 801 
			 Southern 1,133 1,145 
			 Thames 2,417 2,484 
			 United Utilities 3,308 3,000 
			 Wessex 936 794 
			 Yorkshire 1,789 1,553 
			 Total 16,655 15,223 
			
			  Water service   
			 Bournemouth and West Hampshire 60 49 
			 Bristol 117 107 
			 Cambridge 16 18 
			 Dee Valley 31 30 
			 Folkestone 31 29 
			 Mid Kent 111 106 
			 Portsmouth 55 41 
			 South East 211 180 
			 South Staffordshire 104 103 
			 Sutton and East Surrey 97 90 
			 Tendring Hundred 15 15 
			 Three Valleys 281 275 
			 Total 1,129 1,042 
			
			 Industry total 17,784 16,265

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Breastfeeding Facilities

Mike Hancock: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will make a statement on the availability of breastfeeding facilities for  (a) hon. Members and  (b) members of the public in the House.

Nick Harvey: Breastfeeding facilities are available for hon. Members in the Family Room off the Lower Waiting Hall and, if greater privacy is needed, in first aid rooms in various parts of the Estate. For members of the public there is a baby care room just off the Upper Committee Corridor, and there are baby changing facilities off the Lower Waiting Hall and off the Upper Committee Corridor. Details of these facilities for visitors are set out in a leaflet issued by the Serjeant at Arms. These facilities are also open to hon. Members and staff.

Child Care Vouchers

Stewart Jackson: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether the Commission plans to reconsider the decision not to offer child care vouchers to hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The issue of provision of child care vouchers for hon. Members was considered in passing by the domestic committees and by the Commission in 2003 in the context of the Childcare Feasibility study, which was principally concerned with staff and Members' staff. I understand that an informal view was taken that hon. Members were sufficiently well remunerated to meet their own child care costs. The Commission has no plans to consider this issue, as any such provision would fall on the House of Commons: Members Estimate which is not the Commission's responsibility. It would be for the House to decide on any such service, on the basis of proposals from the Leader of the House.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Debt Cancellation

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of alleviation of debt in Africa on health and education provision in Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Debt relief provides long-term, predictable resources for countries to spend on improving health and education. Recipients of debt relief under the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative report their expenditure on reducing poverty (health, education, and rural and agriculture investments for example) and these expenditures increased from an average of 6 per cent. of GDP in 1999 to 9 per cent. of GDP in 2005 in the 29 countries receiving HIPC debt relief.
	There is good evidence that debt relief benefits health and education provision. For example, after receiving debt relief in 2000, Ghana increased its expenditure on education, increasing the net enrolment ratio of seven to 13-year-olds by 8 per cent. and the number of secondary schools from 937 to 1,024 by 2004. In Tanzania, debt relief received in 2001, helped to increase the number of children in primary schools by over 50 per cent., build almost 2,500 new primary schools and recruit 28,000 extra teachers. If this rate of progress continues, Tanzania will meet the goal for universal primary education in the next couple of yearssignificantly ahead of the target date of 2015. In Uganda, debt relief has helped make possible the removal of user fees for healthcare. As a result, the number of new out-patient consultations has increased from 9.3 million in 1999-2000 to 24.5 million, indicating a doubling in the use of health services over five years. Immunisation coverage has increased from 41 per cent. in 1999-2000 to 89 per cent. in 2004-05.
	When fully implemented, the new multilateral debt relief initiative (MDRI) will provide over US$50 billion of debt cancellation to up to 43 countries. Zambia has used some of its savings under MDRI to abolish health user fees in rural areas, allowing thousands of poor people to access free health care. Ghana also intends to use some of its MDRI savings for health and education, and we expect other countries to make similar commitments when their new budgets are agreed.
	Health and education in Nigeria will also benefit as a result of its recent debt deal at the Paris Club. Approximately $1 billion a year that would have been spent by Nigeria on debt service will now be channelled through a poverty reduction fund with a focus on the millennium development goals. As a result, the federal health and education budgets have received an additional $167 million and $143 million respectively in 2006. The Nigerian Government have agreed that this will help to employ an additional 120,000 teachers and put 3.5 million more children into school.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Queen's Counsel

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many solicitors have applied for appointment as Queen's Counsel under the new selection system.

Vera Baird: 12 solicitors applied for Silk in the current round.

Members of Parliament (Scottish Constituencies)

Piara S Khabra: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the right of hon. Members representing constituencies in Scotland to speak and vote in this House on issues related to England.

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the right of hon. Members representing constituencies in Scotland to speak and vote on issues related to England.

Bridget Prentice: All hon. Members who have taken the oath are entitled to speak and vote on any issue before the House.

Electoral Administration Bill

Clive Betts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what options for data sharing are available to electoral registration officers; and whether this will change under the provisions in the Electoral Administration Bill.

Bridget Prentice: Electoral registration officers are currently able to:
	inspect and take copies of any records kept by their own council, and
	to inspect and take copies of records kept by any registrar of births and deaths.
	The Electoral Administration Bill does not change this. However, what it does do is require electoral registration officers when compiling the electoral register to make full use of their powers to inspect those records which they are permitted to inspect.

Electoral Administration Bill

Mark Harper: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what measures she will put in place to monitor the effect of the proposed changes to Services voting in the Electoral Administration Bill.

Bridget Prentice: In the Electoral Administration Bill the Government inserted a requirement that the MOD would keep a record of the electoral registration information of service personnel. This record will provide statistical information that will be used to provide monitoring on a continuous basis.

Postal Voting

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she will make it an offence to make a false application for a postal vote.

Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Administration Bill creates a new electoral offence of falsely applying for a postal vote. We are currently considering implementation of the provisions in the Bill with a view to having them in force in time for the May 2007 local elections.

Freedom of Information

David Gauke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many Freedom of Information complaints have been referred to the Information Commissioner.

Vera Baird: The Information Commissioner is an independent body created by statute. On 1 June 2006, the Information Commissioner had received 3,521 complaints since the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. This includes complaints made under the Environment Information Regulations.

Office for Legal Complaints

David Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the proposed Office for Legal Complaints.

Bridget Prentice: One of the main proposals in the draft Legal Services Bill which was published by the Government on 24 May is to set up an independent Office for Legal Complaints (OLC). The OLC, which will replace the various complaints services run by the different legal professional bodies, will deal with consumer complaints about legal service providers who are regulated by bodies or organisations that are authorised by the proposed new oversight regulator, the Legal Services Board (LSB). Where things go wrong, the OLC will be empowered to order appropriate redress to consumers.

Action against Medical Accidents

John Baron: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what fees were paid in the last year to Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA); what services were provided by AvMA in respect of such fees; and whether the engagement of AvMA to provide services was the subject of a tendering process.

Vera Baird: During 2005-06, the Legal Services Commission (LSC) paid 529 to AvMA as part of a three year contract with Community Legal Service Direct to review the content of the advice leaflet, 'Medical Accidents'. The value of the contract fell below the threshold necessary for tendering.

Court Service

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the recent performance of the Court Service in  (a) Southend-on-Sea and  (b) Essex.

Harriet Harman: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Area of performance  Southend( 1)  Essex 
			  Ineffective trials (PSA 1)   
			 2005-06 Crown target17 per cent. 11.8 per cent. 12.7 per cent. 
			 2005-06 Mags target 22.5 per cent. 23 per cent. 22 per cent. 
			
			  Timeliness (PSA 1)   
			 2005-06 Crown target78 per cent. 73 per cent. 75.3 per cent. 
			
			  Persistent Young Offenders (PSA 1)   
			 Jan-Dec 2005 Crown and Mags target71 days n/a 56 days 
			
			  Confiscation Orders(PSA 2)   
			 2005-06 Mags Outstanding Balance rate targetless than 50 per cent. n/a 1 per cent. 
			 2005-06 Orders closed targetgreater than 25 per cent. n/a 15 per cent. 
			
			  Payment rate (PSA 2)   
			 2005-06 Mags target89 per cent. n/a 88.2 per cent. 
			
			  Family Public Law (PSA 4)   
			 Care Centre 2005-06 target70 per cent. n/a 47.1 per cent. 
			 FPC 2005-06no target n/a 56.7 per cent. 
			
			  Family Private Law   
			 2005-06 County target70 per cent. 70.1 per cent. 74.1 per cent. 
			
			  Adoptions   
			 Target70 per cent. n/a 64.1 per cent. 
			
			  County Court Small Claims   
			 2005-06 target78 per cent. 83.8 per cent. 86.9 per cent. 
			
			  County Court Fast Track   
			 2005-06 target78 per cent. 78.5 per cent. 76.3 per cent. 
			
			  County Court Multi Track   
			 2005-06 target78 per cent. 76.2 per cent. 62.5 per cent. 
			 (1) Southend Crown Court is administered by Basildon Combined CourtThere are no separate Crown Court figures for Southend alone but, where stated will be the combined performance figures of Basildon and Southend

Departmental Staff

Roger Berry: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many disabled staff in her Department received support through the Access to Work scheme  (a) in each of the last five years and  (b) in 2006-07.

Vera Baird: The DCA has recently appointed a team of dedicated local disability advisers based in the regions who assist in ensuring that the required reasonable adjustments, including specialist equipment and support, for people with disabilities are provided. Those advisers provide support and advice to individuals in making applications to Access to Work.
	It is not possible to confirm the precise number of individuals assisted under the Access To Work scheme over the last five years without incurring disproportionate costs, as there is no central record held within DCA.
	With effect from 1 October 2006, Access to Work funding will no longer be available to employees of Central Government Departments, and DCA will be responsible for financing any required reasonable adjustments for its own employees.
	The Office of Disability Issues (ODI) will be monitoring the situation to ensure that there is no detriment to current and future employees who are disabled.

Elections

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many complaints she has received from residents of West Lancashire in relation to being unable to vote in  (a) local,  (b) general and  (c) European elections in each year since 1997.

Bridget Prentice: As far as DCA records show, we have received one item of correspondence complaining that postal ballot papers did not arrive for the 2004 elections in Lancashire. No other correspondence from West Lancashire relating to being unable to vote has been received, and my Department does not hold any information on this subject prior to 2001.

Judiciary

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she is taking to increase diversity in the judiciary.

Harriet Harman: The Judicial Diversity Strategy was announced to Parliament on 17 May 2006,  Official Report, column 57WS and sets out how the Department for Constitutional Affairs, the Judicial Appointments Commission and the judiciary will work together to increase the diversity of the judiciary.
	The strategy will: promote judicial service and widen the range of people eligible to apply for judicial office; encourage a wider range of applicants, to ensure the widest possible choice of candidates for selection; promote diversity through fair and open processes for selection to judicial office solely on merit; and, will ensure that the culture and working environment for judicial office holders encourages and supports a diverse judiciary and increases understanding of the communities served.

Legal Aid

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations she has received about eligibility for legal aid in criminal cases.

Vera Baird: I have regular and constructive dialogue with stakeholders, including members of the legal professions, MPs and members of the public, about eligibility for criminal legal aid. For example, I received a number of representations on this point in response to the recent consultation exercise on the draft regulations under the Criminal Defence Service Act.

Legal Profession (Complaints)

John Mann: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what performance standards she has set for the length of time a consumer complaint to the Law Society takes to be resolved, including where the solicitors refuses to accept decisions of the Law Society Adjudication Panel and the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.

Bridget Prentice: I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
	 Substantive answer from Bridget Prentice to John Mann:
	None. The legal profession is independent and self-regulating, and as such I have no powers to set targets for the Law Society. However, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State appointed Ms Zahida Manzoor, as the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner (LSCC) in February 2004. The LSCC has powers to set targets for the handling of complaints, make recommendations about the complaints systems, require the Law Society to submit a plan for complaints handling; and impose a fine if the Law Society fails to meet the agreed plan for improvements in complaints handling.

Legal Profession (Complaints)

John Mann: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  how many solicitors have refused to accept decisions of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what rights of redress are available to those who have won decisions at both the Law Society Adjudication Panel and the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal;
	(3)  what sanctions are available against solicitors who refuse to accept decisions of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal;

Bridget Prentice: I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
	 Substantive answer from Bridget Prentice to John Mann:
	Depending on the matter in question, respondents before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal have an automatic right, under the Solicitors Act 1974, of appeal to the Master of the Rolls or the High Court. The information on the number of appeals against decisions by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal for the last 10 years is unavailable, however, the figures for the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			   Number of appeals 
			 2001 9 
			 2002 8 
			 2003 10 
			 2004 12 
			 2005 9 
		
	
	In the absence of an appeal, an order of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal is immediately enforceable as a High Court order. If the solicitor is fined by the Tribunal, the fine is enforced by the Treasury Solicitorthrough the courts if necessary. If the solicitor is struck off or suspended from practice, that decision would be immediately recorded with the Law Society and the solicitor would be unable to practise. In the event that he continued to practise as a solicitor following an order suspending him or striking him off the Roll of Solicitors, he would be committing a criminal offence under the Solicitors Act and may be prosecuted in the criminal courts.
	The Law Society's Adjudication Panel deals with redress issues and is able to award complainants up to 15,000 in compensation. If a solicitor refuses to accept a decision of the Adjudication Panel, including a decision that he pay compensation, it is open to the Society to prosecute him/her before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The Tribunal cannot award compensation, but if the Law Society has previously awarded compensation, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal can make that award enforceable as a High Court order.

Magistrates Courts

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the facilities available for victims and witnesses in magistrates courts.

Harriet Harman: In 2005 Priority Minimum Standards (e.g. availability of reading materials, witness room routinely cleaned) and Desirable Minimum Standards (e.g. en-suite toilet facilities in witness waiting rooms, video/DVD equipment provided) for witness accommodation were developed and defined in consultation with key stakeholders. To establish how existing waiting facilities met up to these standards, an audit was undertaken in all Crown and magistrates courts in July 2005. Subsequent to that audit, additional funding totalling over 3 million was allocated between the regions to improve facilities where the standards were not being met. A further audit will be undertaken during the summer to ascertain how witness waiting rooms measure up against the standards now that this funding has been spent.

Online Census Project

Mike Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which contractors tendered by 30 June 2006 for work on the English and Welsh 1911 Online Census Project; and what her timetable is for appointment of a contractor.

Vera Baird: The National Archives sought expressions of interest from suppliers through a notice published in the Official Journal of the European Union, the closing date for which was 4 July 2006.
	Conduct of this procurement process will follow normal practice on commercial confidentiality.
	All expressions of interest received by the closing date will be evaluated on 10 July 2006.
	On 11 July 2006 potential suppliers who are shortlisted will be invited to participate in the Competitive Dialogue process to be used for the contract.
	It is anticipated that a contract will be awarded in January 2007.
	Notification will be made in accordance with the Public Services Regulations.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Business Statement

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House how many  (a) Ministers,  (b) hon. Members,  (c) staff of hon. Members,  (d) Members of the House of Lords,  (e) officials in Government Departments and  (f) members of the public receive his office's weekly business statement by e-mail; how much it costs per week to (i) prepare and (ii) distribute, broken down into (A) officials' time and (B) other costs; if he will place a copy of each edition from this Session in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: This information is not held in the format requested.
	To date, a total of 813 people have subscribed to the business statement newsletter. Much of the work in issuing the newsletter is largely automated.
	The average cost of officials' time to upload the business statement each week is 3.99, with a further 67p being incurred in distributing it, ie 4.66 in all. This task forms part of the core duties of the private office staff who maintain the website.
	All previous business statements are freely available on the Office of the Leader of the House website at www.commonsleader.co.uk.
	I note that the hon. Member has so far not subscribed to the newsletter. If he wishes to do so, he can register at: www.commonsleader.co.uk/output/Page637.asp.

Late Sittings

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House on what dates the House sat later than 1.30 am since February 1986; and at what time the House subsequently adjourned on each date.

Jack Straw: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Session/date  Time adjourned 
			  Session 1985-86 (from February)  
			 11 February 1985 2.21 am 
			 17 February 2.04 am 
			 19 February 1.56 am 
			 13 March 8.30 am 
			 25 March 1.34 am 
			 9 April 2.52 am 
			 20 May 1.43 am 
			 21 May 2.12 am 
			 3 June 1.32 am 
			 9 June 2.51 am 
			 1 July 2.12 am 
			 14 July 2.48 am 
			 16 July 1.50 am 
			 23 July 5.24 am 
			 24 July 8.25 am 
			 21 October 4.29 am 
			   
			  Session 1986-87  
			 10 December 1986 (1)16.38 pm 
			 15 December 9.30 am 
			 3 February 2.52 am 
			 11 March 2.07 am 
			 24 March 9.29 am 
			 31 March 3.17 am 
			   
			  Session 1987-88  
			 6 July 1987 1.53 am 
			 7 July 1.53 am 
			 13 July 9.27 am 
			 14 July 1.34 am 
			 20 July 3.27 am 
			 21 October 4.01 am 
			 10 November (1)8.55 pm 
			 2 December 2.31 am 
			 8 December 9.24 am 
			 15 December 1.53 am 
			 3 February 2.56 am 
			 8 February 2.20 am 
			 9 February 1.50 am 
			 17 February 1.40 am 
			 2 March 2.47 am 
			 9 March 4.07 am 
			 10 March 8.30 am 
			 29 March 2.55 am 
			 30 March 2.23 am 
			 13 April 1.57 am 
			 27 April 1.45 am 
			 10 May 2.11 am 
			 23 May 2.29 am 
			 25 May 5.58 am 
			 14 Jul (1)20.01 pm 
			 16 June 4.12 am 
			 29 June 1.40 am 
			 4 July 2.29 am 
			 5 July 1.34 am 
			 11 July 1.30 am 
			 12 July 1.49 am 
			 13 July 3.28 am 
			 20 July 2.36 am 
			 25 July 3.44 am 
			 28 July 8.29 am 
			 29 July 2.47 am 
			 1 November 4.02 am 
			 9 November 3.15 am 
			   
			  Session 1988-89  
			 30 November 1988 1.34 am 
			 14 December 2.20 am 
			 19 December 9.30 am 
			 17 January 2.45 am 
			 23 January 2.18 am 
			 7 February 2.26 am 
			 15 February 2.06 am 
			 13 March 9.23 am 
			 21 March 2.28 am 
			 22 March 2.20 am 
			 11 April 1.50 am 
			 17 April 1.48 am 
			 3 May 2.34 am 
			 8 May 1.31 am 
			 24 May 1.57 am 
			 6 June 5.55 am 
			 13 June 3.28 am 
			 14 June 4.01 am 
			 20 June 2.22 am 
			 5 July 1.15 am 
			 11 July 2.04 am 
			 17 July 4.18 am 
			 19 July 1.46 am 
			 25 July 1.35 am 
			 27 July 8.28 am 
			 24 October 2.35 am 
			 25 October 4.30 am 
			 26 October 1.39 am 
			 8 November 2.26 am 
			 9 November 2.21 am 
			 14 November 1.44 am 
			   
			  Session 1989-90  
			 11 December 1989 2.17 am 
			 13 December 1.55 am 
			 18 December 2.06 am 
			 20 December 8.27 am 
			 15 February 3.05 am 
			 27 March 9.22 am 
			 28 March 1.47 am 
			 24 April 1.56 am 
			 9 May 1.42 am 
			 13 June 2.49 am 
			 20 June 3.45 am 
			 25 June 1.41 am 
			 27 June 1.36 am 
			 2 July 2.55 am 
			 16 July 2.57 am 
			 18 July 1.51 am 
			 23 July 9.30 am 
			 22 October 3.07 am 
			 24 October 2.04 am 
			   
			  Session 1990-91  
			 19 December 1990 8.30 am 
			 30 January 1.50 am 
			 26 February 2.00 am 
			 6 March 1.51 am 
			 14 March 8.30 am 
			 26 March 2.59 am 
			 27 March 1.37 am 
			 16 April 9.39 am 
			 23 April 2.18 am 
			 10 June 3.02 am 
			 24 June 3.08 am 
			 9 July 3.14 am 
			 15 July 4.01 am 
			 22 July 9.25 am 
			   
			  Session 1991-92  
			 12 November 1991 2.23 am 
			 12 December 8.23 am 
			 18 December 2.28 am 
			 20 January 1.33 am 
			 22 January 2.15 am 
			 11 February 1.56 am 
			   
			  Session 1992-93  
			 20 May 1992 8.09 am 
			 9 July 8.28 am 
			 14 December 9.31 am 
			 18 January 7.31 am 
			 2 February 1.34 am 
			 16 February 2.08 am 
			 10 March 2.28 am 
			 30 March 4.29 am 
			 1 April 8.30 am 
			 19 April 1.43 am 
			 21 April 2.45 am 
			 28 April 2.48 am 
			 4 May 1.51 am 
			 26 July 8.24 am 
			 2 November 2.13 am 
			 3 November 2.04 am 
			   
			  Session 1993-94  
			 8 December 1993 1.53 am 
			 14 December 6.19 am 
			 15 December 3.37 am 
			 17 January 2.26 am 
			 18 January 3.22 am 
			 17 March 6.27 am 
			 12 April 1.45 am 
			 13 April 3.03 am 
			 13 July 2.02 am 
			 20 July 8.27 am 
			 1 November 4.45 am 
			   
			  Session 1994-95  
			 15 December 1994 7.23 am 
			 30 January 1.37 am 
			   
			  Session 1995-96  
			 19 February 1996 1.30 am 
			 2 April 2.20 am 
			 22 April 1.45 am 
			 23 April 2.03 am 
			   
			  Session 1996-97  
			 19 March 1997 2.38 am 
			   
			  Session 1997-98  
			 5 June 1997 1.45 am 
			 4 February 2.39 am 
			 11 February 1.54 am 
			 9 March 9.53 am 
			 11 March 3.19 am 
			 24 March 6.44 am 
			 2 September 6.50 am 
			 3 September 1.35 am 
			   
			  Session 1998-99  
			 17 May 1999 5.27 am 
			 5 July 1.54 am 
			 13 July 1.55 am 
			 19 July 2.33 am 
			 3 November 1.49 am 
			 8 November 2.00 am 
			   
			  Session 1999-2000  
			 25 January 2000 (1)19.51 pm 
			 15 February 1.40 am 
			 29 February 8.14 am 
			 8 March 1.41 am 
			 15 March 2.50 am 
			 10 April 1.30 am 
			 11 April 1.55 am 
			 16 May 1.59 am 
			 22 May 2.24 am 
			 20 June 1.54 am 
			 27 June 1.54 am 
			 12 July 3.04 am 
			 13 July 1.44 am 
			 17 July 3.26 am 
			 25 July 3.50 am 
			   
			  Session 2000-01  
			 18 December 2000 2.15 am 
			 8 January 1.37 am 
			 9 January 4.09 am 
			 15 January 1.59 am 
			 27 February 2.33 am 
			 12 March 2.32 am 
			 13 March 2.34 am 
			   
			  Session 2001-02  
			 4 December 2001 1.41 am 
			 22 July 2.00 am 
			   
			  Session 2002-03  
			 16 June 2003 1.52 am 
			 19 November 2.48 am 
			   
			  Session 2003-04  
			 None  
			   
			  Session 2004-05  
			 10 March 2005 (1)7.52 pm 
			   
			  Session 2005-06 (to date)  
			 None  
			 (1) Over 24 hour sitting

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Fraud

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many suspected cases of benefit fraud were  (a) referred to and  (b) investigated by his Department in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Benefit fraud referrals and investigations by DWP 
			   Referrals received  Referrals accepted for investigation 
			 1997-98 1,363,608 925,501 
			 1998-99 1,332,367 923,853 
			 1999-2000 887,788 564,543 
			 2000-01 748,486 441,368 
			 2001-02 667,449 389,633 
			 2002-03 571,561 334,974 
			 2003-04 533,062 325,706 
			 2004-05 488,835 309,343 
			 2005-06 458,012 311,161 
			  Notes: 1. Referrals accepted for investigations exclude General Matching Service cases. 2. Figures are a total of benefit fraud and instrument of payment fraud.  Source: Fraud Information by Sector system and data from the Fraud Investigation Service, Organised.

Benefit Payments

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to ensure that employers are willing to recruit people who have been claiming incapacity benefit or employment and support allowance.

Jim Murphy: The Government are determined to ensure that people on incapacity benefits and, when it is introduced, those on the new employment and support allowance, should not be written off as incapable of work and consigned to a life on benefit.
	Since 1997, we have set about implementing the most profound extension of disability rights this country has ever seen. In October 2004, we extended the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 to provide protection against discrimination for an additional 600,000 disabled workers. A further seven million jobs and one million employers were brought within the scope of the employment provisions of the Act. We conduct regular media campaigns aimed at helping employers and service providers to recognise their obligations under the DDA, as well as the commercial benefits of providing accessible services.
	Our Pathways to Work pilots work with employers to help people on incapacity benefits gain and retain employment. They have already shown significant success in getting people off benefit and into employment. Over the next two years we will be extending Pathways to Work to every part of Britain. As a result of this investment, we will be bringing new hope and opportunity to some of the most disadvantaged members of our community.
	We are currently putting together a cohesive and wide-ranging strategic action plan, developed in consultation with employers and employer organisations that are committed to increasing job opportunities for disabled people. We will work closely with them and other key stakeholders to build and deliver the action plan. Proposals include: an employer-led campaign to better engage employers to recruit and retain disabled people at both corporate and local levels; continued work to increase awareness of the Disability Discrimination Act; addressing and challenging negative employer attitudes; and building employer support for the Government's Welfare Reform agenda. Our aim is not just to challenge and change attitudes, but also to make a real difference to the recruitment of disabled people as well as their retention and progression within organisations.
	On 4 July 2006 we launched our Welfare Reform Bill which set out our plans for welfare reform.

Carbon Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the carbon emissions of his Department; what commitment he has made to reducing such emissions; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: In the last Sustainable Development in Government Report, published in December 2005, DWP was reported as having produced 62.1 thousand tonnes of carbon for the year 2004-05.
	The Department is committed to meeting the new Sustainable Operations targets announced by the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 12 June. We continue to work closely with our Estates Partners, Land Securities Trillium, to identify and introduce more energy saving measures across the estate, and to maintain, and where possible increase, our use of renewable energy. Currently 60 per cent. of our electricity is sourced from renewable sources, although this is not factored into the figures reported above. We have also begun work with the Carbon Trust to increase awareness among staff, encouraging them to make best use of energy saving devices and features where they are available, and to adopt improved housekeeping practises.

Child Support

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Child Support Agency will reclaim from the Treasury monies wrongly deducted for maintenance payments from a constituent of the hon. Member for Birkenhead (reference PCU/156249/RVI/LCP, case number, 321030812331).

James Plaskitt: holding answer 6 July 2006
	The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to my right hon. Friend.
	 Letter from Hilary Reynolds, dated 11 July 2006:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As he is currently unavailable, I am responding on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Child Support Agency will reclaim from the Treasury monies wrongly deducted for maintenance payments from a constituent of the hon. Member for Birkenhead (reference PCU/156249/RVI/LCP case number 321030812331.
	As details about individual cases are confidential I have written to you separately about this case.

Child Support

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what earnings from the Territorial Army are exempt from child support calculations; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  in what circumstances a father is exempt from paying child maintenance as a result of receiving payments from the Territorial Army.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 6 July 2006
	Members of the Territorial Army are not automatically exempt from paying child support maintenance. Child support calculations do not take account of any payment made in respect of the performance of duties as a member of the Territorial Army. Such members, in common with those who serve communities in similar occupations such as lifeboat crew or part-time firefighters, tend to undertake these activities in addition to their main occupation. Child support will take account of earnings from that main job and any other net weekly income.

Child Support

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the total backlog was of all Child Support Agency cases relating to West Lancashire residents operating under the old scheme of calculation which are due to transfer to the new scheme but where the transfer has not yet taken place in each month since March 2003;
	(2)  what the total backlog of cases is relating to West Lancashire residents awaiting processing under the new Child Support Agency scheme calculation for each month since June 2003.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not currently available at the geographical levels requested.

Child Support

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what dates members of the child support redesign team in his Department have had meetings with individuals and organisations from outside his Department in the last 12 months.

James Plaskitt: Sir David Henshaw began his redesign work in February 2006 and is due to report back to the Secretary of State before the summer recess. During this time Sir David and his team are meeting with a variety of individuals and organisations from outside the Department. Representations made to Sir David will be detailed in his report.

Child Support

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will instruct the Child Support Agency to reconsider its decision not to provide child maintenance for Mrs. Lynda Gould of Buckfast on the basis that her son's father is in the Territorial Army; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 4 July 2006
	The Secretary of State cannot get involved in individual cases and therefore is unable to instruct the Child Support Agency to reconsider its decision.
	Members of the Territorial Army are not automatically exempt from paying child support maintenance. Child support calculations do not take account of any payment made in respect of the performance of duties as a member of the Territorial Army. Such members, in common with those who serve communities in similar occupations such as lifeboat crew or part-time firefighters, tend to undertake these activities in addition to their main occupation. Child support will take account of earnings from that main job and any other net weekly income.
	We are making further investigations into how the relevant legislation should be applied in this case. The chief executive of the Child Support Agency will write to the hon. Member and his constituent once we have completed that investigation.

Disability Living Allowance

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis qualified for disability living allowance in  (a) 2004 and  (b) 2005.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 6 July 2006
	For the year ending 30 November 2004, there were about 2,400 new awards for customers whose primary disabling condition is recorded as myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue syndrome or other post viral conditions. For the year ending 30 November 2005, there were about 2,800 new awards.
	 Source
	DWP information Directorate: 5 per cent. sample data. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.

Gateway

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to roll out the new Gateway to help parents resolve child support cases.

James Plaskitt: This is an area to be considered by Sir David Henshaw in his redesign.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what factors were taken into account when deciding that industrial injuries disablement benefit should be treated as income for means-tested benefits.

Jim Murphy: Industrial injuries disablement benefit is compensation paid for the degree of disablement suffered as a result of an industrial accident. In all the income-related benefits, income from all sources is normally taken into account, with disregards only where special considerations apply. Consequently, this benefit is taken fully into account when determining entitlement to an income related benefit.
	Other benefits such as attendance allowance and disability living allowance are available to customers if as a result of their injuries they require personal care. As such these benefits are disregarded when entitlement to means-tested benefits is assessed.

Mesothelioma

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidelines have been issued on awarding compensation to mesothelioma sufferers who have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 19 June 2006
	The Department introduced regulations and procedures on 29 July 2002 that deem people suffering from mesothelioma to be 100 per cent. disabled from the outset. The change ensures that customers receive the maximum amount of IIDB from the earliest possible date. Procedures were also changed to remove the need for a separate examination on behalf of the Department where the disease has already been diagnosed.
	These changes are in addition to the existing fast track arrangements for dealing with claims from customers suffering from other asbestos related diseases and ensure that they are dealt with maximum speed and minimum intervention from the Department.
	They can also make a compensation claim under the Pneumoconiosis (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 where there is no relevant employer to pursue.
	In relation to civil claims for damages, the Judicial Studies Board publishes guidelines for the judiciary on the assessment of damages for pain and suffering in personal injury cases. These are based on decided cases and do not cover any damages that may be awarded for other elements of the claim, such as loss of earnings. The latest edition of the guidelines indicates that an award of between 45,000 and 70,000 is appropriate in mesothelioma cases.

Mesothelioma

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the numbers of  (a) women and  (b) men who suffer from mesothelioma due to exposure to fibres brought home on the clothes of spouses, or other family members, exposed to asbestos at their workplace.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 10 July 2006
	The information on which to base such an estimate is not available.

Mesothelioma

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether those who suffer from mesothelioma due to exposure to fibres brought home on the clothes of spouses, or other family members, exposed to asbestos at their workplace are eligible to make claims under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) 1979 Act scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 10 July 2006
	People who have contracted mesothelioma as a result of fibres brought home by others exposed at the workplace are not eligible for a payment under the Pneumoconiosis etc (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979.

New Deal

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the uptake of the New Deal in rural communities; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: Although no formal research has been undertaken to assess the uptake of new deal in rural areas, we estimate that more than 273,000 people in rural areas(1) have started new deal for young people, new deal 25 plus and new deal for lone parents and over 172,000 have gone into work through these programmes. This ratio of programme starts to people into jobs through new deal compares favourably with the national average.
	New deal for young people and new deal 25 plus are mandatory programmes and people who are required to attend these programmes will be expected to do so, regardless of the area in which they live. However, new deal advisers are required to identify any barriers or issues participants in new deal may have in getting back to work, and this can include, where appropriate, addressing barriers that may be inherent in living in rural areas.
	Jobcentre Plus providers must deliver provision in locations that are easily accessible to participants, and where particular difficulties exist, for example in more rural areas, they must address these. Participants also receive help with their travel expenses for attending the Jobcentre Plus office on days when they would not normally be required to, or when attending new deal provision.
	Information is not available on the take up of new deal in rural areas for new deal 50 plus, new deal for disabled people and new deal for partners.
	We produce an internal annual Rural Proofing Report for the Countryside Agency; this includes examples of how the Department has addressed service delivery issues in rural areas. A copy of the Countryside Agency's Rural Proofing Report for 2004-05 is available in the Library.
	(1) Information from the new deal database has been calculated using data on postcodes from the National Statistics Rural and Urban Classification of Output Areas.

Occupational Pensions

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department sought the support of the Irish Government with respect to an application for a temporal limitation procedure in relation to the Amicus-Community trade union occupational pensions case.

James Purnell: holding answer 16 June 2006
	No. But my officials have had discussions about the case with their counterparts in Ireland and exchanged copies of their written observations on the case, as the outcome of the case is as important in Ireland as it is in the UK.

Pension Credit

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of  (a) pensioner households and  (b) female pensioners in (i) Wales, (ii) Scotland and (iii) England he estimates will be eligible to claim pension credit in (A) 2010, (B) 2015, (C) 2020 and (D) 2025; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: The information is not available in the format requested. The information available is shown in the following table.
	The numbers eligible for pension credit in the future are subject to a range of uncertainties and a number of factors including policies on uprating different benefits. Table 1 shows the projected proportion of pensioner households eligible for pension credit under the proposals contained in the White Paper Security in retirement: towards a new pensions system. This information is not available below Great Britain level.
	
		
			  Table 1: Projected proportion of pensioner households who may be eligible for pension credit for selected years under the White Paper proposals 
			   All pensioner households (percentage) 
			 2010 44 
			 2015 44 
			 2020 41 
			 2025 36 
			  Notes: 1. Projections of the proportion of pensioner households eligible for pension credit are sensitive to modelling assumptions and to projected changes in the distribution of pensioner incomes. 2. The estimates shown here are the mid-points of projections taken from two separate micro-simulation models. Modelling of the reform proposals does not include any increase in private saving from the introduction of personal accounts, which would reduce the numbers eligible for pension credit. 3. These projections assume: continued earnings uprating of the standard guarantee credit; earnings uprating of the savings credit threshold from 2008 to 2014; earnings uprating of the basic state pension from 2012; price uprating of the maximum savings credit from 2015; measures to improve coverage of the basic state pension described in the White Paper. 4. Estimates account for equalisation of state pension age between 2010 and 2020. Estimates assume that the minimum age at which people can claim pension credit rises in line with women's state pension age. 5. Estimates are calibrated to the mid-points of the 2004-05 National Statistics range estimates of non-eligibility to pension credit, which adjust 2004-05 Family Resources Survey data to take account of possible biases in reporting. Although the estimates here are not presented as ranges, they are subject to a margin of uncertainty. 6. Estimates of the number of pensioners eligible under the proposed reforms are not available for each country. As explained above, the estimates are based on taking the average of results from two separate models, a process which would render the breakdown of estimates at sub-Great Britain level unreliable.

Pension Credit

Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in each electoral ward in Chester City were receiving pension credit in the last period for which figures are available.

James Purnell: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Pension credit individual beneficiaries for wards in City of Chester parliamentary constituency, November 2005 
			  Ward name( 1)  Individual beneficiaries( 2) 
			 Blacon Hall 520 
			 Blacon Lodge 490 
			 Boughton 335 
			 Boughton Heath 120 
			 Christleton 160 
			 City and St. Anne's 320 
			 College 175 
			 Curzon and Westminster 95 
			 Dodleston 70 
			 Handbridge and St. Mary's 195 
			 Hoole All Saints 200 
			 Hoole Groves 235 
			 Huntington 55 
			 Lache Park 355 
			 Mollington 50 
			 Newton Brook 125 
			 Newton St. Michaels 240 
			 Saughall 185 
			 Upton Grange 185 
			 Upton Westlea 200 
			 Vicars Cross 230 
			 Elton(3) 205 
			 Waverton(3) 60 
			 Tattenhall(3) 180 
			 City of Chester constituency total 4,570 
			 (1) Wards are based on 2003 ward boundaries. (2 )The number of individual beneficiaries includes both claimants and their partners. (3 )Only part of Elton, Waverton and Tattenhall wards fall within City of Chester parliamentary constituency.  Note: Number of individual beneficiaries are rounded to a multiple of five, therefore ward totals do not always sum to area totals.  Source: DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) 100 per cent. data.

Pension Credit

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in each electoral ward in Edinburgh West constituency receive pension credit; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Pension credit individual beneficiaries for wards in Edinburgh West parliamentary constituency, November 2005 
			  Ward name( 1)  Individual beneficiaries( 2) 
			 Dalmeny/Kirkliston 315 
			 Queensferry 250 
			 Cramond 220 
			 Davidson's Mains 160 
			 Muirhouse/Drylaw 865 
			 East Craigs 505 
			 N.E. Corstorphine 210 
			 Murrayfield 180 
			 Gyle(3) 295 
			 S.E. Corstorphine 255 
			 Stenhouse(3) 725 
			 Murray Burn(4) 435 
			 Edinburgh West constituency total 3,960 
			 (1) Wards are based on 2003 ward boundaries and Westminster parliamentary constituencies boundaries (2005 onwards). (2) The number of individual beneficiaries includes both claimants and their partners. (3) The majority of Gyle and Stenhouse wards fall within Edinburgh West parliamentary constituency. (4) Only a small part of Murray Burn ward falls within Edinburgh West parliamentary constituency.  Note: Number of individual beneficiaries are rounded to a multiple of five, therefore ward totals do not always sum to area totals.  Source: DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) 100 per cent. data.

Pension Credit

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in  (a) Edinburgh West constituency and  (b) other Edinburgh parliamentary constituencies receive pension credit.

James Purnell: The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Pension credit individual beneficiaries in Edinburgh parliamentary constituencies, February 2006 
			  Parliamentary constituency( 1)  Individual beneficiaries( 2) 
			 Edinburgh East 5,200 
			 Edinburgh North and Leith 4,110 
			 Edinburgh South 3,180 
			 Edinburgh South West 3,830 
			 Edinburgh West 3,940 
			 (1) Parliamentary constituencies and local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory. (2) The number of individual beneficiaries includes both claimants and their partners.  Notes: 1. These figures are early estimates. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figures provided are the latest available figures which are taken from the GMS scan at 17 February 2006. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure. Average amounts are displayed as at the scan reference data of 17 February 2006. 2. The number of individual beneficiaries are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: DWP: 100 per cent. data from the Generalised Matching Service (GMS). Pension Credit scan taken as at 17 February 2006.

Pension Credit

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of pensioners in West Lancashire  (a) entitled to and  (b) receiving pension credit.

James Purnell: Estimates of eligibility are not available below the level of Great Britain. As at February 2006, there were 6,030 pension credit individual beneficiaries in West Lancashire parliamentary constituency.
	 Notes
	1. These figures are early estimates. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figures provided are the latest available figures which are taken from the GMS scan at 17 February 2006. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure.
	2. The number of individual beneficiaries is rounded to the nearest 10.
	3. Parliamentary constituency is assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	4. The number of individual beneficiaries includes both claimants and their partners.
	 Source
	DWP: 100 per cent. data from the Generalised Matching Service (GMS). Pension credit scan taken as at 17 February 2006.

Pension Rights (Bankruptcy)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2006,  Official Report, column 865W, on pension rights (bankruptcy), what the difference is between recent unpaid contributions to occupational pension schemes or state scheme premiums which are preferential and amounts due to pension schemes that is not preferential which is unsecured; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: The unpaid contributions that are preferential debts are employee contributions to an occupational pension scheme that have been deducted from the employee's pay during the last four months preceding the relevant insolvency date but that have not yet been paid over by the employer to the scheme, and unpaid employer contributions in respect of the 12-month period preceding the relevant insolvency date.
	Under the Pension Schemes Act 1993 the trustees of a scheme can claim a payment in lieu of certain unpaid employee and employer contributions from the redundancy payments directorate of The Insolvency Service, which is an executive agency of the Department of Trade and Industry. Payments are made from the National Insurance Fund and if such a payment is made, the right to recover the relevant contributions from the insolvent employer's estate transfers from the pension scheme to the Secretary of State. Any sum owed on account of a state scheme premium is also a preferential debt.
	All other amounts due from an insolvent employer to a pension scheme are unsecured. This includes debts due under section 75 of the Pensions Act 1995,which provides a mechanism for the trustees to be able to take action to pursue a statutory debt due from employers to defined-benefit schemes in certain circumstances including the insolvency of the employer.

Pensions

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the net present cost is of reinstating the pensions of those pension scheme members covered by the recommendations of the parliamentary ombudsman.

James Purnell: We estimate that the net present value of the cost of implementing the ombudsman's proposals is between around 2.9 billion and 3.7 billion.

Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the total change in revenue to the Treasury resulting from the cancellation of contracted-out rebates to defined contribution schemes in each year from 2012.

James Purnell: The estimated total change in public finances resulting from the abolition of contracting out for defined contribution schemes is shown in the following table.
	Over time, the costs to S2P and the reductions on the rebate are expected to be broadly equivalent. The abolition of contracting out leads to a cash-flow effect from the rebate, balanced by a longer term increase in state second pension liabilities. The increase in the cost of the state second pension will arise as people retire, many of them after 2050. Therefore, some of the increase in cost is not captured in this table.
	
		
			  State second pension and rebate costs due to the abolition of contracting out for defined contribution schemes 
			   billion 
			   State second pension  Rebates 
			 2012 0 -4.0 
			 2013 0 -4.1 
			 2014 0 -4.1 
			 2015 0 -4.2 
			 2016 0 -4.2 
			 2017 0 -4.2 
			 2018 0.1 -4.2 
			 2019 0.1 -4.3 
			 2020 0.1 -4.3 
			 2021 0.2 -4.3 
			 2022 0.2 -4.3 
			 2023 0.3 -4.3 
			 2024 0.4 -4.2 
			 2025 0.5 -4.2 
			 2026 0.6 -4.2 
			 2027 0.7 -4.2 
			 2028 0.9 -4.1 
			 2029 1.1 -4.1 
			 2030 1.3 -4.1 
			 2031 1.5 -4.0 
			 2032 1.8 -4.0 
			 2033 2.1 -4.0 
			 2034 2.4 -3.9 
			 2035 2.7 -4.0 
			 2036 3.0 -4.0 
			 2037 3.2 -4.0 
			 2038 3.4 -4.1 
			 2039 3.6 -4.2 
			 2040 3.8 -4.3 
			 2041 3.9 -4.4 
			 2042 4.1 -4.5 
			 2043 4.2 -4.6 
			 2044 4.4 -4.7 
			 2045 4.6 -4.7 
			 2046 4.7 -4.8 
			 2047 4.9 -4.9 
			 2048 5.1 -5.0 
			 2049 5.3 -5.1 
			 2050 5.4 -5.1 
			  Note:  Data in 2006-07 prices, coverage is GB.  Source:  DWP estimates.

Pensions Reform

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his oral statement on pensions reform of 25 May 2006,  Official Report, columns 1648-51, what estimate he has made of the difference in the number of people who would have gained a full basic state pension under the Turner proposals based on residency and the number based on his proposed reform of the contributory principle.

James Purnell: holding answer 5 June 2006
	The Government's White Paper on pension reform, Security in retirement: towards a new pensions system, published on 25 May, includes estimates of those achieving a full basic state pension under the Pensions Commission's residence accruals approach compared to our proposed reform of the contributory principle.
	Estimates of the proportion of people reaching state pension age with full basic state pension under the current system, the Pension Commission's residence accruals approach, and our proposed reform are shown in Figure 3.vi of Security in retirement: towards a new pensions system, and in the following table.
	
		
			  Table 1: Proportion of people reaching state pension age with full basic state pension under different schemes 
			  Percentage 
			   Current system without reform  Residence accruals from 2010  30 qualifying years for new retirees from 2010 
			  Men
			 2010 90 90 95 
			 2015 85 85 95 
			 2025 75 85 95 
			 2050 75 95 95 
			 
			  Women
			 2010 55 55 70 
			 2015 70 75 85 
			 2025 80 85 95 
			 2050 80 95 95 
			  Notes: 1. Based on projections from the Government Actuary's Department's Retirement Model, GB. 2. Estimates are approximate and reflect the inevitable uncertainty associated with any future projection. Figures shown have therefore been rounded to the nearest 5 percentage points. 3. Under residence accruals, 44 years are required for a full basic state pension. 4. Women's entitlement is based on their own and their husband's contributions, i.e. includes entitlement using the inheritance and substitution rules for widows and divorced women.

Statistical Returns

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what statistical returns and reports were rendered by local employment offices during the period January to June 2006; how many civil servants were involved in  (a) collating,  (b) processing and  (c) publishing the statistics; and what the estimated total cost was.

Jim Murphy: The information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Winter Fuel Payment

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost would be of extending eligibility for the 200 winter fuel payment to those non-pensioner households who qualify for cold weather payments.

James Purnell: We estimate the cost of extending winter fuel payments to non-pensioner households that are eligible for a cold weather payment would be 300 million in 2005-06.
	 Notes:
	1. Estimates based on DWP benefit data and rounded to the nearest 50 million.
	2. Actual receipt of a cold weather payment depends on local temperatures as well as meeting qualification conditions. Here it is assumed that all eligible cases would receive a payment of 200.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Departmental Emissions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate she has made of the carbon emissions of her Department; what commitment she has made to reducing such emissions; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Department for Communities and Local Government was created on 5 May 2006 and no assessment of its carbon emissions has yet been undertaken. In 2005 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister produced approximately 5,000 tonnes of absolute carbon emissions, as reported in the 2005 Sustainable Development in Government report. These emissions were calculated through the energy consumed across the estate; this included ODPM properties and Executive Agencies but excluded the Government Office Network.
	In addition to the carbon emissions produced through energy consumption, ODPM produced an estimated further 360 tonnes of absolute carbon emissions through business road travel in 2005.
	The Department of Communities and Local Government has commenced a carbon management programme with the Carbon Trust. The aim of the programme is to mobilise the Department and its agencies in working towards reducing carbon emissions across the estate. This will involve identifying energy efficiency quick wins, as well as devising long-term strategies and business opportunities to ensure increased sustainability across all areas of business.

Design for Manufacture

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated minimum life span is of the properties constructed for the Design for Manufacture competition.

Angela Smith: All bidders were required, as a minimum, to comply with all current building regulations and demonstrate that all of the homes they were proposing to build through the competition would be able to obtain relevant third-party approvals, such as from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and building warranty agreements. This is normal industry practice, and assessments for mortgageability are commonly based on a 60-year minimum measure for life span. However, in addition, to ensure that we could explore the whole-life quality of the proposed dwellings the bidders were also required to prepare a table setting out maintenance and replacement costs in use for all homes built under the Design for Manufacture competition based on a period of 60 years.

Greater Manchester (Local Government)

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to introduce  (a) an elected mayor,  (b) an elected assembly and  (c) other statutory forms of governance for the Greater Manchester City Region.

Phil Woolas: Discussions are ongoing with Manchester and the other core cities regarding their business case proposals, following the summits that were held during 2005. Those business cases include options for devolving decision-making to the cities or city regions. We will further develop these ideas and associated thinking, including on individual local authority leadership, in the forthcoming Local Government White Paper.

Home Information Packs

Michael Gove: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what benchmarks have been established to measure the effectiveness of the pilots for home information packs.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	We are currently developing proposals for the dry run and will make an announcement before the parliamentary recess.

Planning Applications

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether  (a) parish and  (b) town councils have the power to delegate decisions on planning applications to a responsible councillor or officer.

Phil Woolas: Parish and town councils have no powers to determine planning applications and are not therefore in a position to delegate decisions on applications to councillors or officers. Parish and town councils are entitled to be notified in writing of planning applications in their areas and make representations on them, following a written request to the local planning authority.

Second Homes

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans her Department has to introduce a second homes tax, as recommended by the Affordable Rural Housing Commission.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 10 July 2006
	The Department for Communities and Local Government has no plans to introduce a second homes tax. From April 2004, we have given councils the freedom to reduce the council tax discount on second homes from 50 per cent. to 10 per cent. In 2005-06 councils raised an additional 92 million to spend on local priorities by reducing the discount.

Sheree Dodd

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments her Department has made to Sheree Dodd out of public funds; and for what purposes.

Angela Smith: The terms of contracts between the Department and individuals are private matters. Sheree Dodd has been working as an interim head of news for the Department for Communities and Local Government while a full civil service recruitment process is completed. This is a short-term role and requires a person with expertise and recent knowledge of Whitehall.

Single Status Agreement

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will ensure that there is no aggregate national cash limit to the capitalisation of back payments due to local authority staff arising from the single status agreement.

Phil Woolas: Revised guidance on the policy and procedures for capitalisation directions was issued on 26 June. This is available from the Department for Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/capital/cappol pro.pdf

Sovereign Strategy

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what dates over the last 12 months  (a) she and  (b) (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in her Department met a representative of Sovereign Strategy.

Angela Smith: On 18 November 2005 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, then serving as Minister of Communities and Local Government, spoke on raising aspirations for young people in the North East at the Annual North East Economic Forum, organised by the University of Northumbria and Sovereign Strategy. I am not aware of Ministers holding other meetings with representatives of Sovereign Strategy during this period. Records are not held centrally of such contacts at official level. Any such contacts are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Civil Service Code, Code of Conduct for Special Advisers and Guidance for civil servants on contacts with lobbyists and people outside Government.

Sustainable Communities Summit

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason her Department is cancelling the Sustainable Communities Summit in Manchester due to be held in February 2007; how much the event has cost, including cancellation fees.

Angela Smith: The Sustainable Communities summit that was to be held in Manchester in February 2007 has been cancelled for the following reasons:
	1. DCLG is taking a new approach to stakeholder engagement. The DCLG is a new Department with a new remit and will be communicating its agenda in new ways.
	1.1 The Department is of the view that the commercial sector is better placed to deliver large-scale events such as the summit. Previous summits in 2002 and 2005 were successful in raising awareness of the Sustainable Communities agenda with key stakeholders. The success of these summits and other similar events such as the Thames Gateway Forum means that it is the right time to seek private sector interest in running the summit.
	1.2 As well as looking at how best to communicate through large events, the Department is planning a series of regional events to discuss how we can best work with the public, private and voluntary and community sectors to deliver sustainable communities.
	The summit project has in total cost 291,000.
	The cancellation element of the total cost will be in the region of 60,000 (the Department has yet to agree final costs with our contractors).

Third Sector

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the projected budget is for the Central-Local Government-Third Sector Engagement Board.

Phil Woolas: There is no specific budget allocated to the Central-Local Government-Third Sector Engagement Board. Its secretariat and related policy work will be resourced within current departmental staffing.

Unitary Authorities

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which  (a) local authorities and  (b) groups of authorities have applied to be pilots for new unitary status; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Our approach to restructuring will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper which will be published shortly after the summer recess.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

BBC

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the BBC about the desirability of bringing BBC regions in line with Government regions; and if she will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions with the BBC about the desirability of bringing BBC regions in line with Government regions.

Departmental Staff

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many disabled staff in her Department received support through the Access to Work scheme  (a) in each of the last five years and  (b) in 2006-07.

David Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport received support through the Access to Work scheme for the following numbers of people:
	
		
			Number 
			  (a) 2001-02 0 
			  2002-03 0 
			  2003-04 2 
			  2004-05 3 
			  2005-06 2 
			  (b) 2006-07 2

Engagements

Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she next plans to visit Coventry Cathedral.

Tessa Jowell: I have no specific plans to visit Coventry Cathedral. However when I am next in the West Midlands I would be pleased to do so.

Engagements

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the official engagements of the hon. Member for St. Helens South from the date of appointment as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Media and Tourism) to 14 July.

Shaun Woodward: The information is as follows:
	 I have undertaken the following public engagements:
	25 MaySpeech at Digital Switchover Conference in Cumbria
	6 JuneSpeech at UK Inbound Parliamentary Reception
	8 JuneArena: Men of the Year Awards.
	13 JuneSpeeches at Film Birmingham debate and reception
	19 JuneSpeech at Clore Conference on Culture and Creative Enterprise
	21 JuneIntroductory Speech at Annual Media Lecture
	29 JuneSpeech at the Westminster Media Forum
	30 JunePresented an Award at the Commercial Radio Awards
	4 JulySpeech at the Skillset TV Skills Launch
	4 JulySpeech at the IPPR event: The Long TailOpportunities in a new marketplace
	5 JulySpeech at Tourism Alliance AGM
	6 JulySpeech to Royal Television Society
	 I have undertaken the following parliamentary commitments:
	5 JuneDCMS questions
	14 JuneWestminster Hall debate on digital switchover
	21 JuneOpposition day debate on the future of the BBC
	3 JulyDCMS questions
	6 JulyWestminster Hall debate on digital switchover
	10 JulyGovernment debate on the BBC
	 The following are scheduled:
	11 JulyWestminster Hall debate on TV licensing
	13 JulySI debate on TV licensable content services order and the radio multiplex order
	 I have undertaken the following meetings with the following external parties:
	24 MayCompetition and IP BreakfastMany Industry representatives
	5 JuneITV
	5 JuneMotion Picture Association
	6 JuneMicrosoft
	12 JuneTechnology BreakfastMany Industry representatives
	12 JuneLondon Development Agency
	12 JuneMusic Business Forum
	22 JuneChinese Minister for Radio, Film and Television
	22 JuneIntellect
	27 JuneNBC
	27 JuneApple
	30 JuneMinister President of Baden-Wuerttenberg
	5 JulyDigital TV group
	 The following meetings with external parties are scheduled and subject to parliamentary business:
	11 JulyBrooks Lapping productions
	12 JulyBskyB
	12 JulyO2
	12 JulyHistoric Houses Association
	I have also carried out a full schedule of engagements with internal stakeholders, other Ministers, MPs, DCMS sponsored bodies, cabinet committees and business with the EU commission.

Hyde Park Events

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the events held in Hyde park during the last 12 months for which an attendance fee was payable and for which an area of the park was enclosed; how much  (a) income was generated and  (b) expenditure was spent by the Royal Parks Agency relating to each such event; what arrangements are in place between the Royal Parks Agency and relevant local authorities to reduce the impact of these events on local residents; and whether payments were made to any local authority in relation to these events.

David Lammy: The following table show the number of events that were held in Hyde park, the income derived from them and the cost to The Royal Parks (TRP).
	Under the 2003 Licensing Act The Royal Parks are, from 24 November 2005, required to obtain a licence for events from the local authority. In the case of Hyde park, that is Westminster city council. It is for the local authority to set the limit on the number and size of events and any other conditions it feels relevant. In addition, TRP holds meetings with the local authority, police, transport and other emergency services to agree the arrangements for each event. Details like noise levels are subject to existing guidance and are monitored by the council and the promoter at each event.
	In addition to day-to-day liaison with Westminster city council, TRP officials attend many meetings of residents and amenity societies, and write to local residents and neighbours advising them of the dates, times and other arrangements relating to events.
	The only payment made to any local authority in relation to these events was the fee for the licence, which amounted to 48,100.
	
		
			  Events for which an attendance fee was payable by the public and an area of the park was enclosed, 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 
			  Event
			  2005  Description  Income (fee) ()  Expenditure () 
			 Moonwalk17 June Charity sponsored walk around London streets, starting and ending in a large marquee in Hyde park 152,500 17,008 
			 02 Wireless Festival24 to 25 June and 29 to 30 June Ticketed sponsored music festival over four nights. On the Parade Ground. Mix of outdoor stages and dance tents. 283,000 (1)65,890 
			 Queen and Paul Rogers15 July Ticketed commercial music concert on Parade Ground. 280,000 (1) 
			 R.E.M.16 July Ticketed music concert on the Parade Ground 280,000 (1) 
			 BBC Proms in the Park10 to 11 September Ticketed music concert on the Parade Ground 132,043 7,374 
			 (1 )Total

Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions she has visited each region in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

Tessa Jowell: I have made 34 regional visits in the last 12 months. Details are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Regions  Times visited 
			 London 12 
			 Wales 1 
			 Scotland 2 
			 North West 4 
			 South East 5 
			 East 2 
			 Yorks and Humber 1 
			 West Midlands 3 
			 North East 1 
			 South West 3

Post Office

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with  (a) other Government departments,  (b) the BBC and  (c) Post Office Limited on the effect on the sub-post office network of the loss of television licence renewal income.

Shaun Woodward: holding answer 6 July 2006
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no such discussions. The award of the contract for over the counter sales of television licences is a commercial decision for the BBC (as television licensing authority). Prior to the announcement of the corporation's decision, DCMS officials had been briefed by the BBC, and liaised with officials at the Department of Trade and Industry.

Television Licences

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received regarding the withdrawal of television licence savings stamps.

Shaun Woodward: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport had received 13 representations primarily about the withdrawal of TV licence savings stamps at the end of June 2006. A small number of representations about other aspects of the licensing system also referred to savings stamps but are not recorded separately. The Department has also answered two other recent parliamentary questions about the withdrawal of savings stamps.

Televisions, Leicester

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households in Leicester have television receiving equipment; and what proportion receive a signal from  (a) Waltham television transmitter (BBC),  (b) Sutton Coldfield television transmitter (BBC) and  (c) other BBC transmitters.

Shaun Woodward: Nationally, an estimated 97.6 per cent. of households have television reception equipment. We do not have local figures for Leicester.
	Most viewers in Leicester can get signals either from the Waltham transmitter or from a small transmitter in the city which relays Waltham's signals. The Sutton Coldfield transmitter does overlap Waltham across most of the city and there are a few parts (notably the Wigston area of the city and a section to the south-west of the city centre) where only Sutton Coldfield provides adequate signals.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Allegations against Teachers

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidences there have been of pupils making serious allegations against teachers in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and in how many of these cases the allegations were proved to be false or unfounded.

Maria Eagle: The Department does not collect the information on the basis requested.
	The Department has undertaken an audit recently with all employing authorities to collect information about staff, both teaching and non-teaching, who have been suspended from duty following allegations of child abuse. This information has been collected to inform the work of a review group established to look at the use of precautionary suspension when allegations of child abuse are made against members of staff. I expect to receive a report of the findings, including an analysis of this data, and proposals for new guidance from the review group in the autumn and I intend to publish both the report and the proposals later this year.

Census 2011

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when preparatory work began in Northern Ireland for the 2011 Census; and what it will involve.

David Hanson: Preparatory work for the 2011 Census began in Northern Ireland during 2003, in line with developments across the rest of the UK. The work involved includes (i) reviewing and evaluating key aspects of the 2001 Census operation, (ii) developing, testing and evaluating new topics/questions, enumeration procedures and statistical methodologies, (iii) procuring systems and services to assist with the data collection, processing and output phases of the Census and (iv) consultation with users. Proposals for the 2011 Census will be brought forward in a White Paper in 2008.

Child Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the action plan for implementation of the Children's and Young People's Strategy will be subject to consultation.

Maria Eagle: I do not intend to consult publicly on the action plan for implementation of the 10-year Strategy for Children and Young People. My priority, as I indicated at the launch, is to publish the action plan as quickly as possible and then get on with the actions to achieve the six outcomes set out in the strategy. A draft action plan will be considered by the Strategy Planning and Review Group, established to oversee implementation. I will chair the group and membership will include key children's stakeholders. I will also seek the views of members of the All-Party Group, whom I meet with on a regular basis, prior to publication.

Departmental Staff

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many disabled staff Northern Ireland Government Departments have employed in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: The information requested is as shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Staff employed by Northern Ireland Government Departments who have declared a disability at 1 January each year 
			   NICS staff  NIO HCS staff  Total 
			 1997 435 n/a 435 
			 1998 414 n/a 414 
			 1999 911 n/a 911 
			 2000 856 n/a 856 
			 2001 1,245 n/a 1,246 
			 2002 1,249 5 1,254 
			 2003 1,247 6 1,253 
			 2004 1,295 10 1,305 
			 2005 1,363 9 1,372 
			 2006 1,409 10 1,419 
			 n/a = Not applicable  Notes: 1. Table shows staff employed by NI Government Departments and departmental agencies and includes industrial staff, casual staff and Home Civil Service (HCS) staff employed in NIO. (Figures for NIO HCS staff prior to 2001 could not be made available within the timescale for this question. 2. Figures for 1997 and 1998 show those staff who were registered as disabled. Figures for 1999 to 2006 show those staff who declared a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. It is impossible to say with authority whether all staff with disabilities have declared it; anecdotal evidence is that an unknown number has not. 3. In August 2000, the Northern Ireland civil service conducted a survey of staff and encouraged those staff who had a disability to declare it at that time. Since then all new staff have been required to declare whether or not they have a disability.

Derry Airport

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people from  (a) Strabane district council area and  (b) Limavady district council area have applied for jobs as (i) airport hands and (ii) fire fighters at city of Derry airport in the last six years; and how many from each council area were successful.

David Cairns: Employment policies and practices in relation to the airport are a matter for its owner, Derry city council.
	I have asked the chief executive of Derry city council to write to the hon. Member with the information.

Domestic Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the average effective tax rate that will be levied from April 2007 under the new system of domestic rates; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: It is estimated that the effective tax rate to be levied on households in Northern Ireland under the new discrete capital values system in April 2007 will be 6.33 for every 1,000 of capital value. This estimate is based on a 6 per cent. increase for the regional rate, which has already been announced in the draft Priorities and Budget 2006-08 and an assumption of a 6 per cent. increase in the average district council rate. District councils are wholly responsible for setting the district rate in each of the 26 council areas and this broad assumption is made against a background of a 5.8 per cent. average increase in district rates over the last three years.
	In order to smooth the transition to the new system assistance will be provided through relief schemes, firstly for those facing significant increases and secondly for those on low incomes beyond the 20 per cent. of households that are already entitled to a full rebate under housing benefit.

FIFA World Cup

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which matches  (a) he and  (b) other Ministers in his Department attended at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany in their ministerial capacity; at what cost to public funds; and with what contributions from third party organisations.

Peter Hain: Neither I nor any member of my ministerial team attended any matches at the recent FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Financial Assistance (Political Parties)

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been paid per year to each political party in Northern Ireland under the financial assistance to political parties scheme; and whether this funding will end if there is no agreement for a power-sharing Executive by 24 November.

David Hanson: The amount paid per year to each political party under the Financial Assistance to Political Parties Scheme as operated by the Northern Ireland Assembly is set out as follows.
	In terms of future funding, I would refer my hon. Friend to the work plan published with the joint statement made by the Prime Minster and the Taoiseach on 29 June 2006, which stated that salaries and allowances for MLAs and financial assistance to parties would stop from 24 November if restoration does not occur by that date.
	
		
			   
			   1998-99  1999-00  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Alliance 22,500 35,000 32,000 32,000 66,000 59,372 66,000 
			 Democratic Unionist Party 45,000 60,200 60,090 60,000 123,877 154,230 187,264 
			 Northern Ireland Unionist Party 3,833 29,500 27,400 26,000 27,000 20,192 (1)n/a 
			 Progressive Unionist Party 16,000 24,000 24,000 24,000 54,000 43,000 2,077 
			 Social Democratic and Labour Party 51,000 69,500 68,100 68,000 102,000 84,000 102,000 
			 Sinn Fein 42,000 57,490 56,076 56,000 105,549 126,322 51,403 
			 United Kingdom Unionist Party 22,500 31,500 22,000 22,000 27,000 24,900 27,000 
			 Ulster Unionist Party 57,000 77,100 73,110 72,000 121,269 127,222 168,385 
			 United Unionist Assembly Party 11,333 27,500 26,016 26,000 52,500 35,000 (1)n/a 
			 Northern Ireland Women's Coalition 18,000 25,500 24,000 24,000 54,000 34,000 (1)n/a 
			 (1) These parties did not continue operating following the 2003 NI Assembly election.

Further Education

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding has been allocated for further education colleges in the Province to provide tuition to those with  (a) mental health difficulties and  (b) learning disabilities in 2006-07.

Maria Eagle: The Department for Employment and Learning is unable to provide financial information in the format requested but would confirm that it has allocated total funding of 6,866,092 for the academic year 2006-07 to the FE sector in Northern Ireland towards provision for those students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Further Education

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used to categorise further education college courses as recreational rather than vocational.

Maria Eagle: When the course of study is identified by the further education colleges as not examined, or not leading to a qualification, it is categorised by the Department as non-specified, non-examinable and generally viewed as a hobby and leisure/recreational course.

Further Education

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to withdraw funding to further education colleges in the Province for tuition of those with  (a) mental health difficulties and  (b) learning difficulties.

Maria Eagle: The Department for Employment and Learning has no plans to withdraw funding to further education colleges in Northern Ireland for tuition for those students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Further Education

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding has been allocated to further education colleges in the Province for tuition of those with  (a) mental health difficulties and  (b) learning disability in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The Department for Employment and Learning is unable to provide financial information in the format requested but would confirm that the total funding provided to the FE sector in Northern Ireland towards provision for those students with learning difficulties and disabilities in the last five years was as follows:
	
		
			   Funding () 
			 2006-07 6,866,092 
			 2005-06 5,793,553 
			 2004-05 6,318,568 
			 2003-04 6,256,633 
			 2002-03 7,628,772

Knives

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many knives were recovered in each district council area in the Province during the recent knife amnesty.

David Hanson: A total of 886 items were handed in during the recent knife amnesty in Northern Ireland. The numbers deposited in bins in each district council area were as follows.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Antrim 26 
			 Ards 26 
			 Armagh 22 
			 Ballymena 29 
			 Ballymoney 23 
			 Banbridge 63 
			 Belfast 102 
			 Carrickfergus 31 
			 Castlereagh 35 
			 Coleraine 42 
			 Cookstown 17 
			 Craigavon 40 
			 Derry City 33 
			 Down 4 
			 Dungannon/South Tyrone 38 
			 Fermanagh 28 
			 Larne 26 
			 Limavady 22 
			 Lisburn 62 
			 Magherafelt 11 
			 Moyle 8 
			 Newry and Mourne 8 
			 Newtownabbey 46 
			 North Down 48 
			 Omagh 33 
			 Strabane 7 
		
	
	The other 56 items were surrendered to bins managed by the harbour police and Ministry of Defence.

Knives

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of knives that are carried in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: It would be impossible to make an estimate of the number of knives carried in Northern Ireland. Knives are used in a variety of professions and for hobbies and pastimes such as camping and diving in a way that does not break the existing laws.
	The Government are however determined to tackle the culture of carrying knives for illegal purposes. One way that we can judge the success of policies, campaigns and initiatives is to note their impact on the recorded crime figures where the use of a knife is involved.
	Current initiatives that seek to address the culture of knife carrying among young people include the year- long public information campaign and the education package that will be delivered in post-primary schools from September.

Media Monitoring

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on media monitoring in each of the last five financial years.

Peter Hain: Media monitoring expenditure in each of the last five years is detailed as follows and comprises both equipment and staff costs.
	
		
			  Equipment costs 
			
			 2001-02 3,096.13 
			 2002-03 20,982.08 
			 2003-04 25,975.36 
			 2004-05 13,543.24 
			 2005-06 2,513.02 
		
	
	The rise in expenditure in 2002-03 and 2003-04 was due to the NIIS media monitoring facility transferring to a digital service from video to DVD.
	 Staff costs
	There are four staff employed in the Media Monitoring Unit and their combined average salaries for the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			
			 2001-02 61,868 
			 2002-03 64,544 
			 2003-04 67,220 
			 2004-05 69,896 
			 2005-06 72,568

Migrant Workers

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department is taking to ensure that migrant workers to Northern Ireland have access to information on  (a) health,  (b) social services,  (c) housing and  (d) other public services.

Maria Eagle: Northern Ireland Departments provide a wide range of information and services to migrant workers. Key areas are:
	 Migrant worker access to information on health
	The Department for Health and Social Services and Public Safety is currently developing a booklet for those new to Northern Ireland which provides key information about health and social services and how to access them. This will be made available in a range of languages.
	The Department is currently in discussions regarding the future provision of interpreting, with the aim of meeting the needs of the changing migrant worker communities.
	The Department in collaboration with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland will produce a second edition of the 2003 good practice guide Racial Equality in Health and Social Care by March 2007.
	 Migrant worker access to information on social services
	The Social Security Agency has a statutory obligation to ensure that migrant workers have access to social security benefits where they satisfy the necessary conditions. The Agency ensures that migrant workers are, on request, allocated a national insurance number to enable them to pursue legitimate employment or obtain access to social security benefits.
	The Agency publishes benefit information and fact sheets in a number of languages including Arabic, Chinese, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish and works closely with voluntary sector support groups to ensure that information about the benefits system is as widely available as possible.
	Telephone and face-to-face interpreting and translation services are provided by the Agency to those customers who have difficulty communicating in English.
	 Migrant worker access to information on housing
	The Northern Ireland Housing Executive provides or facilitates the following services to ensure that migrant workers in Northern Ireland have access to information about housing services.
	An interpreter service (language line) is available to all housing executive district office staff.
	The housing executive intranet site includes advice leaflets available in the following languages: French; Lithuanian: Polish; Russian; Mandarin and Cantonese.
	The housing executive provides inter-cultural awareness training to equip its front-line staff with the knowledge and skills to deal with culturally sensitive issues. The training also provides information on support services and organisations assisting migrant workers.
	 Migrant worker access to information on other public services
	Government Departments who provide services to migrant workers are taking similar measures as are being taken on health, social services and housing, some examples include:
	Driver Vehicle Licensing NI (DVLNI) produces leaflets and posters in a number of languages and on a range of issues including how to buy a car, obtain a drivers licence, insurance and use of seat belts.
	Provisions of English for Speakers of other Languages courses are available in Further Education colleges.
	Language line interpreting services are provided in all jobs and benefits offices and Jobcentres.
	The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (H and SENI) operates a telephone interpretation service and translation service for customers whose first language is not English. It has also produced a picture booklet on safety in the workplace specifically for migrant workers working in high-risk industries.
	A key step that the Government are taking is the recent establishment by the Race Forum of a thematic group on migrant workers. This group will examine the work that individual Departments and agencies have been doing to date and identifying those information practices which should be consistent across all Government. It will make recommendations to Ministers in the autumn.

Ministerial Meetings

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what dates the Minister for Social Development has met representatives of the  (a) Democratic Unionist Party,  (b) Ulster Unionist Party,  (c) Progressive Unionist Party,  (d) Ulster Political Research Group and  (e) Orange Order in the last 12 months.

David Hanson: The information requested from June 2005-June 2006 is as follows:
	
		
			  Party  Dates 
			 DUP 19 July 2005 
			  18 October 2005 
			  21 November 2005 
			  15 March 2005 
			  30 March 2006 
			  8 May 2006 
			  11 May 2006 
			  26 June 2006 
			   
			 UPRG 9 June 2005 
			  19 September 2005 
			  12 December 2005 
			   
			 PUP 21 June 2005 
			  24 October 2005 
			  30 March 2006 
			   
			   
			 Orange Order 23 January 2006 
			  2 February 2006 
			   
			 UUP 30 March2006 
		
	
	As Minister for Social Development I have also met representatives from the parties on other occasions in different ministerial capacities during the 12-month period.

Model United Nations General Assembly

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how much funding the Model United Nations General Assembly has received from his Department in each of the last five years; and how much funding has been allocated for the next three years;
	(2)  what his assessment is of the contribution to reconciliation in Northern Ireland made by the Model United Nations General Assembly organised by the Council for Education in World Citizenship Northern Ireland.

Maria Eagle: The Model United Nations General Assembly is organised by the Council for Education in World Citizenship NI (CEWC NI). The Department of Education funded CEWC (NI) through its Community Relations Core Funding Scheme for the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2004, total funding 136,584. A breakdown for each of the last five financial years is displayed in the following table.
	
		
			
			 2001-02 39,918 
			 2002-03 51,201 
			 2003-04 45,465 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 0 
			 Total 136,584 
		
	
	The overt objectives of the Model United Nations General Assembly (MUNGA) are not around reconciliation in Northern Ireland. However, it is recognised that any programme that widens the experience of young people in the context of Global Citizenship and their understanding of diversity has merit.
	The next round of core funding, 2007-10, was launched on 5 July 2006 and CEWC (NI) are welcome to apply. All applications will be judged on how they meet the scheme's criteria/objectives.

MRSA

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many MRSA-related deaths have there been in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years  (a) in total and  (b) in each hospital.

David Hanson: Causes of death are classified by International Classification of Diseases (ICD), the current version of which does not have a specific code for MRSA. However statistics on deaths where MRSA was a contributing factor can be obtained by identifying deaths registered with specific conditions likely to be linked with MRSA and then checking whether MRSA was recorded on the death certificate.
	The following table gives the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years, 2001-05, where MRSA was mentioned on the death certificate. The figures relate to all deaths where MRSA was mentioned on the death certificate, regardless of whether it was the primary cause of death or not. Figures are classified by place of death, which need not be the place of infection.
	
		
			  MRSA-related deaths by place of death, 2001-05 
			  Place of death  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005( 2) 
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 1 7 1 4 4 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 1 1 4 7 7 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 1 1 1  3 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 1 7 2 5 9 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust   2 2 4 
			 Green Park HSS Trust 1 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust  3 3 1 6 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 2  1  1 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 2 1 2 4 6 
			 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust 1  2 5 3 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust 6 4 1 2 8 
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 1 1 4 4 5 
			 Other(1) 1 1 7 10 12 
			 Total 17 26 30 44 69 
			 (1 )Other place of death includes deaths in Nursing Homes or in the home. (2) Provisional data.

Pollution

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many  (a) private citizens and  (b) businesses in Northern Ireland have been prosecuted for causing pollution from (i) septic tanks and (ii) heating oil tanks in each of the last three years; and what the total amount paid out in each category was in each year.

David Cairns: In the last three years, no private citizens have been prosecuted by Environment and Heritage Service for causing pollution from heating oil tanks, as the severity and environmental impact of these incidents have not warranted prosecution.
	In the last three years, one private citizen has been prosecuted by Environment and Heritage Service for causing pollution from a septic tank. The incident occurred in 2003, and the owner of the septic tank was fined 2,000 and court costs of 16 were awarded against the offender.
	The following figures outline the number of prosecutions taken in respect of oil pollution incidents caused by industry since 2003:
	
		
			  Year in which incident occurred  Number of cases  Costs awarded ()  Fines imposed () Cases still pending 
			 2003 7 1,337 7,400  
			 2004 4 10,645 4,600  
			 2005 6 206 300 8 
			 Total 17 12,188 12,300

Private Members' Bills

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 28 October 2005,  Official Report, column 657W, on Private Members' Bills, whether the information was collected at any time; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: This information has never been collected.

Sinn Fein

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how much has been granted to Sinn Fein from public funds in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how much Sinn Fein has received in the last year from public funds;

David Hanson: I am sorry for the lateness of this reply, which was due to an administrative error.
	The amount paid in  to Sinn Fein in respect of members' salaries and allowances, and party allowances, by the Westminster Parliament and NI Assembly is as follows:
	
		
			   Westminster  NI Assembly 
			 1998-99 (1) 935,950 
			 1999-00 (1) 1,341,860 
			 2000-01 (1) 1,588,184 
			 2001-02 63,370 1,711,507 
			 2002-03 342,455 1,877,511 
			 2003-04 439,452 1,939,690 
			 2004-05 472,482 2,122,968 
			 (1 )Westminster Parliament figures are not disaggregated prior to 2001.  Notes: The information for the last financial year 2005-06 is not yet available.

Substitute Teachers

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements his Department has in place to undertake background criminal conviction checks on substitute teachers.

Maria Eagle: It is the responsibility of each employing authority to ensure that criminal record checks are carried out on prospective employees in line with guidance provided by my Department on the recruitment of people to work with children and young people in educational settings.
	The Northern Ireland Substitute Teacher Register (NISTR) was made available to all schools from March 2004. All teachers on the register have an initial pre-employment criminal record check carried out and a vetting check carried out every two years thereafter. With effect from 1 September 2006, only substitute teachers who are on the NISTR should be employed to work in schools.

Valuation and Lands Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Valuation and Lands Agency has spent on its automated valuation model and associated computer database and training.

David Hanson: The VLA used CAMA (Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal) techniques and proprietary spatial modelling software to assess capital values of domestic properties in Northern Ireland for rating purposes.
	The automated CAMA and modelling software operate on data contained within the Agency's core business database system.
	The Valuation and Lands Agency has spent a total of 1.40 million in respect of the automated valuation model and associated computer database and training.

Valuation and Lands Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Valuation and Lands Agency use of geocode data in its automated valuation model includes data on proximity to geographic features or facilities.

David Hanson: Geocode data do not contain data on proximity to geographic features or facilities.

Valuation and Lands Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Valuation and Lands Agency  (a) automated valuation model and  (b) Spatialest software uses variography techniques.

David Hanson: Variography techniques were not used by VLA in the construction of valuation models. While the Spatialest software is capable of applying variography techniques the VLA modellers did not use the facility.

Waste Disposal

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have been prosecuted for the illegal  (a) transport,  (b) deposit and  (c) storage of waste in each of the last three years; and what total amount was paid in fines in each year.

David Cairns: Prosecutions for illegal waste offences are taken under the Waste and Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997.
	It is not possible to provide a breakdown in the format you have requested. Prosecutions for unregistered waste transport are associated with the more serious offences of illegal storage and deposit of waste, for which several offences may apply in each case.
	The following overall successful prosecutions for waste offences have been taken by EHS:
	2004: 24 prosecutions, generating total fines of 18,800;
	2005: 58 cases, generating total fines of 104,050; and
	2006 (to end June): 47 cases, generating total fines of 85,050 and a prison sentence of nine monthsthe first sentence handed down by the courts in Northern Ireland for waste offences.

Water Service

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed by Water Service in  (a) administrative,  (b) technical and  (c) professional grades; and how many people were employed in each category in (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1999-2000.

David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has written to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	 Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan, dated 10 July 2006:
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about how many people are employed by Water Service in (a) administrative, (b) technical and (c) professional grades; and how many people were employed in each category in (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 1999-2000 (75587). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
	The details requested are set out in the table below. Water Service does not differentiate between Professional and Technical grades.
	
		
			  Grade  1996-97  1999-2000  1 July 2006 
			 Administrative 477 467 369 
			 Professional and Technical 683 679 565 
			 Total 1,160 1,146 934

WALES

Public Appointments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many public appointments are within his patronage; what  (a) salary and  (b) other emoluments are attached to each; and what the comparable figures were in (i) 1976, (ii) 1986 and (iii) 1996.

Peter Hain: Following the devolution settlement in 1999 responsibility for public appointments that were made by the Secretary of State for Wales was transferred to the National Assembly for Wales.
	The detailed financial information requested could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Accession State Workers

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether funding given to Sheffield city council for issues related to accession state citizens may be used for  (a) advice workers,  (b) interpreting services and  (c) repatriation costs.

Liam Byrne: The sum in question (44,250) was made available to Sheffield city council primarily for the purpose of repatriating destitute accession state nationals. It was however specified that any remaining funding could be used for the council to meet associated costs, including the provision of advice workers and interpreters.

Asylum Seekers (Non-compliance with Reporting Requirements)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to take steps to enable an estimate to be made of the number of asylum seekers who do not comply with reporting requirements to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

Liam Byrne: The level of compliance with reporting restrictions has been monitored since April 2005.

Crime Statistics (Suffolk)

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been  (a) charged and  (b) convicted under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in Suffolk since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The available information relates to the number of persons cautioned, dealt with at court and found guilty for principal drug offences, most of which are under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 legislation.
	
		
			  Persons( 1)  cautioned, dealt with at court and found guilty for principal drug offences, Suffolk, 1997 to 2004 
			  Numbers (rounded) 
			   Cautioned  Dealt with at court  Found guilty 
			 1997 630 650 580 
			 1998 750 660 580 
			 1999 600 660 570 
			 2000 480 590 520 
			 2001 400 500 430 
			 2002 550 640 560 
			 2003 590 710 630 
			 2004 400 690 610 
			 (1) Does not include HM Revenue and Customs data or formal warnings for cannabis possession.

Defence Intelligence and Security Centre

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials from his Department were sent on courses run by the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre in each year since 1997; for what purpose; and at what cost.

Liam Byrne: The information sought is not held centrally in the Home Office.

Departmental Guidance

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is issued by his Department to officials on ordering refreshments at meetings in which  (a) officials only and  (b) non-civil servants will be present; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Refreshments may be ordered for meetings only when:
	(i) a number of those attending will not be Home Office civil servants;
	(ii) a number of Home Office civil servants will be attending a meeting in a building other than that which is their regular place of work; and
	(iii) if refreshments are requested for meetings where neither (i) nor (ii) apply, then advance written authorisation must be obtained.

Deportation (Appeals)

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the countries in respect of which a person seeking asylum in the UK has a right of appeal against deportation on the grounds of personal safety.

Liam Byrne: A deportation decision in respect of a person liable to deportation, including an asylum seeker, currently attracts a right of appeal regardless of the person's country of origin.

Driving Offences

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to make the offence of driving while disqualified a matter for the Crown courts.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The offence of driving while disqualified is a summary only offence and carries a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and/or a level five fine (5,000) and six penalty points. The Government have no plans to increase the maximum penalty or to change the summary trial process to an indictable one for this offence. Most bad driving offences are triable summarily, and it is only the more serious offences, with higher maximum penalties (such as causing death by dangerous driving and causing death when under the influence of drink or drugs) that are triable on indictment.

Driving Offences

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving in each  (a) London borough and  (b) constituency in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Data from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform showing the number of defendants found guilty at the Crown Court of causing death by dangerous driving in Greater London, broken down by committing court is shown in the table. The courts' data enable boroughs to be separately identified in outer London, but not in inner London. We are unable to provide convictions for each London constituency, as the data are not available at the level of detail required. Figures for 2005 will be available in the autumn of 2006.
	
		
			  Number of defendants found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving, in Greater London, broken down by committing court, 2000 to 2004( 1) 
			  Magistrates court/borough  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			  City of London Police  
			 Guildhall Justice Rooms 1 
			 Total City of London Police 1 
			   
			  Metropolitan Police  
			  Inner London magistrates courts  
			 Camberwell Green/Tower Bridge 2 3 3 2 3 
			 Greenwich and Woolwich 2 1 2   
			 Highbury Corner 1 2   1 
			 Horseferry Road 1  1  1 
			 South Western  1 1 2  
			 Thames 1 3  2  
			 West London   3 1  
			   
			  Outer London boroughs  
			 Barking and Dagenham  1 1 1 1 
			 Barnet 2   3 2 
			 Bexley   3   
			 Brent  1 1 1  
			 Bromley   1 1 1 
			 Croydon   1  2 
			 Ealing 3 2 1 1 1 
			 Haringey1 1 
			 Harrow   1 1 1 
			 Havering 2  1  1 
			 Hillingdon  2
			 Hounslow 1 1 1 3  
			 Kingston-upon-Thames  1  1 1 
			 Merton   1 3 1 
			 Newham 1  1 1  
			 Redbridge 1  1 1 1 
			 Sutton   1 1  
			 Waltham Forest2 1 
			 Total Metropolitan Police 17 18 25 28 19 
			   
			 Total Greater London 18 18 25 28 19 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis.   Source:  RDSOffice for Criminal Justice Reform.

European Union Satellite Centre

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what services available from the European Union Satellite Centre are being used by his Department.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office does not use any of the services of the European Union Satellite Centre (EUSC) as the services provided relate to second pillar issues. Details of the services which the EUSC provide are obtainable from their website http://www.eusc.org .

Fatmir Kurti

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Fatmir Kurti, the subject of crime reference 435W09297/02, of 17 and 18 September 2002, remains in the UK.

Liam Byrne: It is not the policy of the Department to comment on the specific details of individual cases in the public domain.

Foreign Criminals

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of  (a) European Council and  (b) European Court of Justice decisions on the effective deportation of foreign nationals incarcerated in the UK.

Liam Byrne: The Secretary of State is satisfied that current procedures with regard to deportation of EEA nationals comply with relevant European Council and European Court of Justice decisions. The European Council directive 2004/38/EC provides for the deportation of EEA nationals on public policy, public security and public health grounds. This directive was transposed into UK law by the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006.

Foreign Prisoner Releases

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether  (a) Fouad Boukadiar,  (b) Abderrahamane Boulares,  (c) Faleh Rechachi,  (d) Alarbi Khelifi and  (e) Khelid Khelifi, convicted of conspiracy to defraud and sentenced to imprisonment in November 2004, have (i) completed their sentences, (ii) been released and (iii) been deported in accordance with the court's recommendations;
	(2)  whether Shamar Evans-Abdulie who was convicted of supplying drugs and sentenced to imprisonment in October 2003, has (a) completed his sentence, (b) been released and (c) been deported in accordance with the court's recommendations;
	(3)  whether  (a) Malik Madani and  (b) Hamlaoui Selama convicted of conspiracy to defraud and sentenced to imprisonment in November 2004, have (i) completed their sentences, (ii) been released and (iii) been deported in accordance with the court's recommendations;
	(4)  whether Bogdan Tanasa, convicted of fraud and sentenced to imprisonment in March 2004, has  (a) completed his sentence,  (b) been released and  (c) been deported in accordance with the court's recommendations;
	(5)  what the  (a) name and  (b) nationality is of the foreign male prisoner detained by Grampian police on 3 May; what the nature of his conviction was; what the (i) date and (ii) term of sentence was; what the date of release was; and whether he was recommended for deportation on release.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office does not comment on individual cases.

Gurkhas

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Gurkha soldiers who have completed their service  (a) applied for and  (b) were granted (i) leave to remain and (ii) British citizenship in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 July 2006
	Figures for applications from Gurkhas for ILR before October 2004 are not available. Figures for the period October 2004 until June 2006 for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) are in table 1. Figures for applications from Gurkhas for citizenship before October 2001 are not available. Figures for the period October 2001 until June 2006 are in table 2. The figures quoted are from provisional management information and are subject to change.
	
		
			  Table 1: Gurkha applications for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) 
			   Applied for ILR  Granted ILR 
			 October 2004-March 2005 269 227 
			 April 2005-March 2006 1,205 1,212 
			 April 2006-June 2006 565 526 
			 Gurkha total 2,039 1,965 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Gurkha applications for citizenship 
			   Applied for citizenship  Granted citizenship 
			 October 2001-March 2002 88 41 
			 April 2002-March 2003 538 111 
			 April 2003-March 2004 658 181 
			 April 2004-March 2005 462 388 
			 April 2005-March 2006 952 1,024 
			 April 2006-June 2006 207 223 
			 Gurkha total 2,905 1,968

Human Trafficking

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which countries people convicted of human trafficking came in each of the past five years.

Vernon Coaker: The nationalities of the people convicted of trafficking offences in the last five years are Albanian, Kosovan, Macedonian, Lithuanian, Turkish, Chinese, Moldovan and Thai.

Illegal Workers

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) asylum seekers and  (b) illegal immigrants have been caught working illegally in each of the past five years.

Liam Byrne: I am advised that IND records show that the number of offenders detected during illegal working operations is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of offenders detected during illegal working operations 
			  Financial year  FAS  Non FAS  Total 
			 2002-03 194 905 1,099 
			 2003-04 456 1,848 2,304 
			 2004-05 1,240 2,614 3,854 
			 2005-06 2,218 7,009 9,227

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) applicant files,  (b) passports and  (c) other documents submitted by applicants have been lost in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate in each of the last three years.

Liam Byrne: Other information is not routinely kept and the cost would be disproportionate to provide the information requested. I am advised that IND records show that the number of passports lost in 2003-04 was 588, in 2004-05 was 452 and in 2005-06 was 288.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are  (a) in place and  (b) planned to reduce the number of documents submitted by applicants being lost in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: IND takes seriously its responsibility for ensuring the safe handling and return of important documents submitted by customers. Measures already in place include procedures for early return of passports, secure handling areas to safeguard documents, secure movement in sealed crates or secure wallets, dedicated passport searching and streamlined work processes. These procedures are kept under review with the aim of further reducing the potential for documents to be lost.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to letters of  (a) 21 December 2005,  (b) 3 February 2006 and  (c) 12 May 2006 from the hon. Member for Richmond Park, regarding the immigration case of her constituent, Mrs. Ifeoma Ngozi Hewlett (ne Exebilo), Home Office reference number E114243.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 21 June 2006
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 26 June.

IT Projects

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many IT projects which cost over 1 million and were introduced since 1997 are in use in his Department.

Liam Byrne: To say how many IT projects which cost over 1 million, were introduced since 1997 and are in use in the Home Department could be given only at disproportionate cost. However as of 8 June 2006, the Home Department had 21 current IT enabled programmes, which either had a full life cost of over 40 million or were mission critical.

John Rose

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will investigate why a constituent, Mr. John Rose, has not received his licence or passport following the undertaking by the Minister to raise the case with the Security Industry Authority;
	(2)  when he will reply to Question 67161 tabled by the hon. Member for Hereford concerning his constituent, Mr. John Rose.

Vernon Coaker: I will write to the hon. Member on this matter.

Judicial Review

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasions an  (a) individual and  (b) organisation has applied for a judicial review of decisions of his Department in each year since 1997; and what the outcome was of each case where proceedings have been completed.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Money Laundering

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of suspicious activity reports relating to suspected money laundering were in connection with transactions in basic bank accounts in 2005.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 10 July 2006
	A total of 127,918 suspicious activity reports were received by the National Criminal Intelligence Service from the banking sector in 2005, representing just over 65 per cent. of all SARs received in that year. There is no requirement on the banking sector to make reference to, or distinguish between, account types on the report form. It is not possible, therefore, to break SARs down by account type.

Offences Committed on Probation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been convicted of  (a) drug dealing offences,  (b) rape,  (c) armed robbery and  (d) manslaughter while on probation in each year since 1998.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is not available in the precise form requested.
	
		
			  Number of individuals convicted of rape, armed robbery and manslaughter whilst under probation supervision 
			   1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003 
			 Rape convictions 33 18 24 27 30 37 
			 Armed robbery convictions 4 6 10 5 9 5 
			 Manslaughter convictions 20 12 2 1 4 2 
			  Source:  RDS NOMS Offender Caseload Statistics.

Parole

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1705W, on parole, what measures have been put in place since 2001-02 to reduce the number of parolees breaking the terms of their release.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Probation National Standards require breach action to be considered after one unacceptable failure to comply with the sentence. Where breach action is not undertaken after one unacceptable failure to comply, a formal written warning of the consequences of further failure may be issued. Ultimately breach or recall action will be taken after the offender's third unacceptable failure to comply. The target for the national probation service to take such enforcement action within 10 working days is met in 90 per cent. of cases. In 2001-02 the enforcement rate for all offenders released on licence was 58 per cent. In 2005-06, this had improved to 93 per cent. The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements were introduced in the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 and came into effect in April 2001. They were strengthened through the Criminal Justice Act 2003. They provide the framework for the police, prison and probation services to supervise the most serious sexual and violent offenders and to take swift enforcement action where such offenders engage in behaviour which demonstrates a risk of harm to the public.

Personal Documentation (Verification)

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether police officers are required to verify when requested the authenticity of personal documentation on occasions when the public are required by financial organisations to send verified copies of the personal documentation by post.

Edward Balls: I have been asked to reply.
	The 2003 Money Laundering Regulations place a responsibility on financial institutions and other firms in the regulated sector to verify the identity of their customers.

Prisons

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) men and  (b) women have (i) committed and (ii) attempted self-inflicted death in each prison in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There is no definition of what constitutes an attempt at self-inflicted death, as it is very difficult to measure suicidal intent. For the number of apparent self-inflicted deaths in each prison in England and Wales, 2001-05, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk (Mr. Bellingham) on 20 March 2006,  Official Report, column 122W, where this information was requested for the time period 1996-2005. As that question did not differentiate between men and women, the following table shows the number of apparent self-inflicted deaths involving women in each prison in England and Wales, 2001-05.
	
		
			  Number of apparent self-inflicted deaths involving female prisoners 
			  Establishment  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Brockhill 1  1 2  
			 Bullwood Hall 1  1   
			 Downview   1   
			 Durham  2 3 1 1 
			 Eastwood Park 1 1 1  1 
			 Edmund Hill (H'point Women)  1  2  
			 Holloway 1 1  2 1 
			 Low Newton1  
			 New Hall  2 3 3 1 
			 Send1  
			 Styal 1 2 4   
			 Court Escort Area 3 1 
			 Buckley Hall1  
			 Total 6 9 14 13 4

Prisons

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place to provide literacy training in the Welsh language for prisoners from Wales.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 10 July 2006
	All education and training delivery in Welsh prisons is available through the medium of the Welsh language, including literacy training. Data on the provision of literacy training in the Welsh language in English prisons are not collected centrally.

Prisons

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place to provide for religious needs of prisoners through the medium of Welsh.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 10 July 2006
	Chaplaincy teams in prisons in Wales are committed to meeting the religious needs of all prisoners, including through the Welsh language. All teams have access to Christian clergy who are able to conduct worship in Welsh. For other religions, networks exist to enable a relevant minister to be found. Chaplaincy leaflets setting out the programme of activities are being produced in Welsh. Provision for Welsh speaking prisoners held in prisons in England will be made on an as needs basis, as for prisoners who require religious provision in any other language.

Prisons

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place to ensure the provision of Welsh medium software in prison IT training centres.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 10 July 2006
	Software used in IT training in prisons in Wales is available in the Welsh language. Data on the availability of Welsh medium software in IT training centres in English prisons are not collected centrally.

Prisons

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place to ensure that prison libraries have an adequate stock of Welsh and Welsh language  (a) books,  (b) periodicals and  (c) newspapers for the use of prisoners from Wales; and how much was spent on providing them in each of the last three years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 10 July 2006
	Prison Service Order 6710 on prison libraries requires the library to cater for the informational, cultural, occupational and recreational needs of all prisoners. Each prison, in conjunction with the local public library authority who provide library services in prisons, ensures that the individual needs of the establishment are met, and follows quality and performance indicators which require a range of materials, such as books, magazines and newspapers, to be made available in a range of languages. Because of this local approach to meeting the individual needs of offenders the amount spent on providing such material is not collected centrally.

Prisons

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place to ensure that prisoners from Wales are able to access Welsh and Welsh language television and radio programmes whilst being held in prisons outside Wales.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 10 July 2006
	Welsh prisoners held in English prisons will have access to Welsh language television and radio programmes through standard terrestrial television and domestic radio. Prisoners will be able to receive Welsh programmes where the signal is strong enough or when programmes are broadcast nationwide.

Psilocin/Psilocybin

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he last asked the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs to review the classification of  (a) psilocin and  (b) psilocybin;
	(2)  what criteria were used for the classification of  (a) psilocin and  (b) psilocybin as class A drugs;
	(3)  how many deaths have been caused by  (a) psilocin and  (b) psilocybin in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: The classification of psilocin and psilocybin has not been reviewed by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. The classification of psilocin and psilocybin as Class A drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, since that Act came into force on 1 July 1973, reflects the United Kingdom's implementation of the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971. Psilocin and psilocybin (and many similar drugs) were included in Schedule one to the 1971 Convention, reflecting international consensus that these substances should be subject to the highest level of control. HM Government placed these substances in Part I of Schedule two to the 1971 Act as Class A drugs. The information on deaths from psilocin and psilocybin is not held.

Racism (Prison Officers)

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers have been  (a) disciplined and  (b) dismissed for racism in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Central records on disciplinary cases involving public sector prison staff are currently being revalidated by reference to records held in individual prisons. I will write to the hon. Lady with the information requested once this exercise has been completed.

Reoffending

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reoffending rates have been of  (a) adults,  (b) young offenders and  (c) juveniles who have served (i) custodial and (ii) community sentences, in each of the last nine years for which figures are available, broken down by offence.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The most recent publication for adult reoffending is Adult Re-offending: Results from the 2002 cohort, Home Office Statistical Bulletin 25/05, available online at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb2505.pdf
	Similarly for juveniles the most recent publication is Juvenile Re-offending: Results from the 2004 Cohort, Home Office On-Line Report 10/06, available online at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/hosb1006.pdf
	Both of these publications hold breakdowns by those who served custodial or community sentences, age and offence. The section Measuring Re-offending, which begins on page one of both reports, explains the difference between reconviction and re-offending measures, as well the changes to the data source used for these computations. Because of the change in methodology, figures for previous years are not comparable.

Sentencing

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the variation in severity of sentences for crimes between regions of England and Wales at  (a) magistrates courts and  (b) Crown courts in each year since 1997; what plans he has to reduce such variation; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 10 July 2006
	Information on sentencing by criminal justice area is contained in chapter five of Sentencing Statistics 2004 (ISSN 1358-510X). In the Criminal Justice Act 2003, the Government established the Sentencing Guidelines Council to frame sentencing guidelines for the courts. In doing so, it is required among other things to have regard to the need to promote consistency in sentencing. It began work in 2004 and has issued four final guidelines to date.

Speeding Offences

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the trigger levels for prosecution of speeding offences were in each region of England and Wales in each year since 1997; what plans he has to reduce variations in the trigger levels between regions; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 10 July 2006
	Decisions on the appropriate action to take when a speeding offence is detected are an operational matter for the police. The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has issued speed enforcement guidelines, available on the ACPO website at www.acpo.police.uk/policies.asp It is for individual chief officers of police to decide on the adoption of these guidelines by their forces. They do not override the discretion of individual officers.

Unlawful Sexual Intercourse

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) males and  (b) females were (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Data from the Court Proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of males prosecuted and convicted for offences relating to sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 16, are contained in the following table. There were no prosecutions or convictions of females for these offences. Statistics for 2005 court proceedings will be available in the autumn of 2006.
	
		
			  Number of males, proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty( 1)  at all courts for offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956(8.5 and S.6) and Sexual Offences Act 2003 England and Wales, 2000-04( 2) 
			   2000( 3)  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			   Prosecuted  Found guilty  Prosecuted  Found guilty  Prosecuted  Found guilty  Prosecuted  Found guilty  Prosecuted  Found guilty 
			 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13 40 53 53 54 43 47 71 49 144 92 
			 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 167 214 178 214 192 228 185 248 376 306 
			 (1) The found guilty column may exceed those proceeded against, as it may be the case that the proceedings in the magistrates court took place in the preceding year and they were found guilty at the Crown Court in the following year.  (2) These data are provided on the principal offence basis.  (3) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.

Victim's Personal Statement

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the introduction of the victim's personal statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Victim Personal Statement (VPS) scheme was introduced in 2001 after pilot projects confirmed the demand for a victim statement scheme. The VPS provides victims with a formal opportunity to tell criminal justice agencies and individuals dealing with their case how the crime has affected themphysically, emotionally, psychologically, financially or in any other way. Victims groups tell us that victims want the opportunity of having a voice in the criminal justice system. However, we are aware that there are some concerns about the level of take-up and the purpose of the scheme. Throughout the summer we will be consulting in more depth with victims, victims' groups and criminal justice agency staff on how the scheme is working, in order to assess what, if any, improvements could be made to its operation. The Government are also currently piloting Victims' Advocates at five Crown courts. The pilots allow the relatives of murder and manslaughter victims to make a statement to the court about the effect of the crime on them after conviction and before sentence. The statement can be made by the relative orally as if giving evidence, read out by an independent or CPS lawyer, or given in writing.

Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme Scheme

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost has been of the Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme scheme since January.

Liam Byrne: The funding arrangements for VARRP (Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme) mean that the Home Office will not be invoiced for the fist six months of 2006 until the end of August 2006.

Zylfi Meera

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure the work of those agencies for which he has Ministerial responsibility will be efficiently co-ordinated in the case of Zylfi Meera;
	(2)  which agencies for which he has Ministerial responsibility have been involved in the case of Zylfi Meera, convicted at Reading Crown court on 4 May 2006;
	(3)  whether those agencies for which he has Ministerial responsibility will need to co-operate with other official services and agencies for which he does not have ministerial responsibility in the case of Zylfi Meera.

Liam Byrne: It is not the policy of the Department to comment on the specific details of individual cases or the agencies involved in these cases in the public domain. However, if the hon. Member wishes to write to me with detailed representations on this matter and sets out the basis of his interest in this case I will consider these further.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bolivia

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of  (a) the decision of Bolivia to rewrite its Constitution and  (b) the likely impact on (i) human rights, (ii) the growth of democracy and (iii) Bolivia's relations with (A) its South American neighbours, (B) the United Kingdom and (C) the United States.

Geoff Hoon: The decision to rewrite Bolivia's Constitution is a matter for the Bolivian people and its Government. An EU Electoral Observation Mission monitored elections on 2 July for the Constituent Assembly, the body charged with carrying forward this process, and we are encouraged to hear initial reports that they took place peacefully. We are not in a position to speculate on the impact of any changes to the Constitution that the Bolivian people may eventually choose to introduce.

Burma

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent to which the agreements between the regime in Burma and the Governments of  (a) France,  (b) Italy and  (c) Germany relating to timber imports from Burma are consistent with the EU Common Position on Burma.

Ian McCartney: No assessment has been made. Timber imports into the EU are not banned under the Common Position on Burma.

China

Rosemary McKenna: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations her Department has made to the Chinese government in relation to human rights abuses in Tibet; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: We regularly raise human rights, including Tibet, with the Chinese Government. My hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Mr. Ian Pearson) raised Tibet with the Chinese Government on 7 April 2006. Human rights in Tibet, and a number of individual cases of concern, were discussed at the latest rounds of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue in May and the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue on 3 July. We will continue to raise concerns about human rights abuses in Tibet at every appropriate opportunity, including during my own visit to China this week.

Government Wine Cellar

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many bottles have been transferred from the Government wine cellar to HM Treasury in the last 12 months.

Geoff Hoon: No bottles have been transferred from the Government hospitality cellar to HM Treasury in the last 12 months.

Indonesia

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will make representations to the Indonesian government regarding the imprisonment of Dr. Zakaria and her colleagues.

Ian McCartney: We do not plan to make representations to the Indonesian government about this case. However, the treatment of religious minorities is an issue we regularly discuss with the Indonesian government. In September 2005, President Yudhoyono stressed that the state guaranteed every citizen religious freedom and called on the police and members of the public to act to prevent violence against any faith. We will continue to work with the Indonesian government on this important objective.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she made to the Government of Israel in May and June on the use of UK-supplied military equipment and components in accordance with the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.

Kim Howells: There have been no representations made to the Israeli Government concerning the use of UK-supplied military equipment during this period.

North Korea

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the six-party talks on North Korea are expected to reconvene.

Ian McCartney: It is not clear when the talks are likely to reconvene. We are very disappointed that, due to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) reluctance to re-engage, it has not been possible to hold further rounds of the six-party talks since their last session in November 2005. We continue to urge the DPRK to return to the talks and make progress on implementing the commitments made in the 19 September 2005 joint statement. Following the G8 Foreign Ministers meeting in Moscow, the Chair's statement underlined the importance of the DPRK returning to the table.

North Korea

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the recent testing of North Korean inter-continental ballistic missiles.

Ian McCartney: Ahead of the launch of the Taepodong-2 missile/Satellite Launch Vehicle, we made clear our view to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), as did the EU, US, Japan and others that this would be seen as a provocative act, which would add considerable tension to an already complex regional situation. We strongly urge the Government of the DPRK to refrain from any further provocation and adhere to its commitments under the 1999 moratorium and the 2002 Pyongyang Declaration. We also call upon the Government of the DPRK to rejoin the six-party talks immediately to demonstrate their commitment to resolve these issues.

Post Office Contracts

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for which services  (a) her Department and  (b) its associated public bodies hold contracts with the Post Office; and what the (i) start and (ii) termination date is of each contract.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its associated public bodies do not hold any contracts with the Post Office.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Casinos

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what meetings he has had with casino developers in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what meetings he has had with representatives of Kerzner International in the last five years.

John Prescott: I refer the hon. Member to the response given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) by my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Jim Fitzpatrick) on 8 February 2006,  Official Report, column 1243W.
	I have had no meetings with Kerzner International. On Wednesday 17 August 2005, while on a well-publicised visit to the Greenwich peninsula, I was one of a number of guests who were updated on progress in the area. I believe one of those present at that time was a representative of Kerzner International, but at no time did I have any conversations about plans for a casino, and I was accompanied by officials at all times.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Warrior infantry fighting vehicles are being deployed to Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: There are currently no Warrior vehicles in Afghanistan. The suitability of the current force package in Afghanistan is kept under regular review and future deployments will be tailored appropriately based on an assessment of the expected operational tempo and conditions.

Afghanistan

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the effectiveness of the allocations of spares for Apache helicopters in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 6 July 2006
	Our initial assessment is that the level of spares support to Apache attack helicopters in Afghanistan has been effective. The level of spares support is monitored on a continuing basis.

Carbon Credits

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of carbon credits for financial years 2006-07 to 2011-12.

Tom Watson: This information is not held centrally and it will take a little time to co-ordinate a reply. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the facts have been assembled and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Defence Bodies (Mergers)

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the proposed merger of the Defence Procurement Agency and the Defence Logistics Organisation is expected to cost; what the purpose of the merger is; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 10 July 2006
	The detailed structure of the new organisation, formed by merging the Defence Procurement Agency and Defence Logistics Organisation, will be addressed during implementation. However, it is not expected that the merger itself will involve significant additional costs beyond those arising from the proposal to collocate elements of the two organisations. The purpose of merging the two organisations is to provide a greater unity of purpose in acquisition; to improve support to our armed forces; and to provide best value for them and the taxpayer.

Departmental Estate

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) land and  (b) property his Department and its predecessors (i) leases and (ii) leased in  (A) Southend West constituency,  (B) Essex,  (C) Hertfordshire and  (D) the Metropolitan Police area of London in (1) 1979, (2) 1983, (3) 1987, (4) 1992 and (5) 1997.

Tom Watson: Full details are not held centrally in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I am able to provide some information which I have placed in the Library of the House due to its volume.
	I should point out that details of service families accommodation leased from Annington Homes Limited in England and Wales, under the 1996 agreement, have not been included.

Future Rapid Effect System

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the timing of the future rapid effect system.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 June 2006,  Official Report, column 164W.

Helicopters

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the armed forces are expected to take delivery of the 70 extra helicopters planned to be procured by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We expect to take delivery of the 70 future Lynx helicopters under order from 2012 to 2017.

Helicopters

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters he has ordered for delivery between 2006 and 2016, broken down by type.

Adam Ingram: A contract for the delivery of 70 future Lynx aircraft was signed in June 2006 between the Ministry of Defence and Westland Helicopters Ltd. A total of 66 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered before the end of 2016.
	In addition, a contract with Lockheed Martin for the upgrade of 30 of our current Merlin Mk1 aircraft was announced in January 2006. The first of these upgrades is expected to enter service in 2013, with all being completed before the end of 2016.

Helicopters

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many qualified helicopter pilots are serving in  (a) the Royal Navy,  (b) the Royal Marines,  (c) the Army and  (d) the Royal Air Force.

Adam Ingram: The latest available information on the number of qualified helicopter pilots in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Army and the Royal Air Force is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Qualified helicopter pilots, 1 April 2006 
			   Number 
			 Naval Service 390 
			 Royal Navy 380 
			 Royal Marines 10 
			   
			 Army 650 
			 Officers 330 
			 Soldiers(1) 320 
			   
			 Royal Air Force(2) (3)560 
			 (1) Based on category employment qualification, employed in the Army as helicopter pilots. It is not possible to provide information on soldiers who may be qualified as helicopter pilots, but are employed in other trades as this information is not centrally collected. (2 )Trained rotary wing pilots. (3) Provisional. Due to the introduction of a new personnel administration system for the RAF, all RAF data for 1 April 2006 are provisional and subject to review.  Note: All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Due to the rounding methods used, figures may not always equal the sum of the parts. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.  Source: DASA (Tri-Service).

Helicopters

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many pilots flying civilian helicopters in the UK have reserve status and could be called up for military duties.

Adam Ingram: This information is not currently held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Non-British Commonwealth Armed Forces

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-British Commonwealth citizens are serving in the armed forces, broken down by country of origin.

Adam Ingram: The number of non-British Commonwealth citizens serving in the UK Regular Armed Forces at 1 April 2006, broken down by country of origin, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  UK Regular Forces( 1)  with Commonwealth nationality other than British at 1 April 2006 
			  Country  Naval Service  Army  Royal Air Force( 2) 
			 Total non-British Commonwealth Service personnel 395 6,410 125 
			 Antigua and Barbuda (3) (4) (3) 
			 Australia 10 75 10 
			 Bangladesh (4) 5 (3) 
			 Barbados (4) 10 (4) 
			 Belize (3) (4) (3) 
			 Botswana (3) 5 (3) 
			 Cameroon (3) 20 (3) 
			 Canada 15 60 20 
			 Cyprus (4) (4) (3) 
			 Dominica (4) 10 (3) 
			 Fiji Islands 75 1,995 5 
			 The Gambia (4) 80 (4) 
			 Ghana (4) 660 (4) 
			 Grenada (4) 50 (3) 
			 Guyana (3) 15 (3) 
			 India 5 45 (4) 
			 Jamaica 25 975 25 
			 Kenya 5 105 5 
			 Malawi (4) 95 (4) 
			 Malaysia (4) 5 (4) 
			 Malta (4) 5 (4) 
			 Mauritius (4) 25 (4) 
			 Namibia (3) (4) (3) 
			 New Zealand 5 65 5 
			 Nigeria (4) 65 (3) 
			 Pakistan (4) 10 (4) 
			 Papua New Guinea (3) (4) (3) 
			 Seychelles (3) 10 (3) 
			 Sierra Leone (3) 45 (3) 
			 Singapore (3) (4) (3) 
			 South Africa 45 720 10 
			 Sri Lanka (3) 15 (4) 
			 St. Kitts and Nevis (3) (4) (4) 
			 St. Lucia 5 225 (4) 
			 St. Vincent and the Grenadines 130 280 (4) 
			 Swaziland (3) 10 (3) 
			 Tanzania (3) (4) (3) 
			 Tonga (3) 5 (3) 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 20 70 10 
			 Uganda (3) 40 (3) 
			 Zambia (4) 20 (3) 
			 Zimbabwe(5) 15 565 5 
			 Other West Indies(6) (4) (4) (3) 
			 Other non-British Commonwealth(7) (3) 15 (3) 
			 (1) Data are for UK Regular Forces (trained and untrained), including Nursing Services and excluding full-time Reserve Service personnel, Gurkhas, the Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. (2) Royal Air Force data are for personnel serving at 6 March 2006. They include personnel who at that date had attested but have not begun basic training. (3 )Denotes zero or rounded to zero. (4) Denotes fewer than five. (5) Includes personnel with nationality recorded as Rhodesian. (6) Includes personnel with nationality recorded as West Indian, but with no country specified. (7) Includes personnel with nationality recorded as British Commonwealth/Foreign.  Note: Data are rounded to the nearest five to prevent disclosure of sensitive information.

Nuclear Deterrent

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1107W, on the nuclear deterrent, whether in the course of his regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer he was informed of the proposed content relating to the retention of the nuclear deterrent in the long-term of the Chancellor's Mansion House speech prior to its delivery.

Des Browne: I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 5 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1107W.

Service Children (Education)

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of children in service children's education schools achieved  (a) five grades A*-C at GCSE and  (b) five grades A-G at GCSE in each year since 1997.

Tom Watson: The percentage of children in service children's education schools that achieved 5 grades A*-C at GCSE in each year since 1997 is as follows:
	
		
			  Service Children's Education 
			   5+ A*-C (Percentage) 
			 1997 44 
			 1998 48 
			 1999 47 
			 2000 52 
			 2001 48 
			 2002 57 
			 2003 60 
			 2004 62 
			 2005 60 
		
	
	The percentage of children in service children's education schools that achieved 5 grades A-G at GCSE in each year since 1997 is as follows:
	
		
			  Service Children's Education 
			   5+ A-G (Percentage) 
			 1997 70 
			 1998 70 
			 1999 79 
			 2000 85 
			 2001 76 
			 2002 98 
			 2003 99 
			 2004 98 
			 2005 97

Service Children (Education)

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of children in service children's education schools achieved level 4+ at key stage 2 in each year since 1997.

Tom Watson: The percentage of children in service children's education schools that have achieved level 4+ at key stage 2 in each year since 1997 is as follows:
	
		
			  Service Children's Education 
			  Percentage 
			   English  Mathematics  Science 
			 1997 71 73 78 
			 1998 74 68 79 
			 1999 73 70 81 
			 2000 75 72 88 
			 2001 76 69 91 
			 2002 75 78 91 
			 2003 77 76 91 
			 2004 82 75 91 
			 2005 83 75 89

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department  (a) has undertaken and  (b) plans to undertake into the psychological effects on women of having early medical abortions at home; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department has not undertaken any research into the psychological effects on women having early medical abortions at home and has no plans to do so.
	The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists reviewed the evidence on abortion when updating its evidence-based guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion in 2004.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 20 June 2006,  Official Report, column 1794W, on abortion, what the evidential basis was for the statement that medical abortion is safe; if she will place in the Library papers that support this; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the then Minister of State for Health for Delivery and Quality on 20 December 2005,  Official Report, column 2688W.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department paid out in compensation to women who had an abortion as a result of misdiagnosis by national health service hospitals in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Caroline Flint: The National Health Service Litigation Authority manages clinical negligence claims on behalf of national health service bodies in England. Its data are not categorised in the format requested.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the NHS abortion rate per 100 live births was in each health authority in England in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table.
	The Health Statistics Quarterly 30 shows that the percentage of conceptions ending in abortion has remained stable.
	
		
			  NHS abortion rate per 100 live births( 1) , by strategic health authority (SHA), England, 2003-05 
			  SHA of residence of women  2003  2004  2005 
			 England 23.4 23.9 24.5 
			 
			 North East 24.0 24.2 23.0 
			 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 22.7 21.8 22.0 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 25.2 26.2 23.9 
			 
			 North West 21.7 22.3 23.5 
			 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 21.0 23.5 25.7 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 20.1 19.6 19.8 
			 Greater Manchester 23.3 23.2 24.3 
			 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 20.8 20.4 21.3 
			 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 20.8 20.8 21.0 
			 South Yorkshire 24.3 23.8 24.4 
			 West Yorkshire 18.9 18.2 19.9 
			 
			 East Midlands 20.7 21.6 21.8 
			 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 19.9 21.3 21.7 
			 Trent 21.2 21.8 21.8 
			 
			 West Midlands 23.5 24.7 26.1 
			 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country 24.1 25.8 27.6 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 26.7 20.8 22.5 
			 West Midlands South 19.4 26.4 27.0 
			 
			 East 19.8 19.5 20.1 
			 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 21.2 20.1 20.6 
			 Essex 18.3 19.1 20.7 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 19.8 19.2 19.2 
			 
			 London 32.4 32.2 32.4 
			 
			 North Central London 33.5 32.7 31.7 
			 North East London 30.3 31.5 31.3 
			 North West London 33.1 32.4 32.3 
			 South East London 38.8 38.2 38.8 
			 South West London 25.4 25.3 27.2 
			 
			 South East 21.6 23.1 23.6 
			 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 21.9 23.0 22.8 
			 Kent and Medway 23.7 24.8 25.0 
			 Surrey and Sussex 20.2 22.1 23.5 
			 Thames Valley 21.3 23.2 23.3 
			 
			 South West 19.5 20.5 21.0 
			 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 19.4 19.5 20.7 
			 Dorset and Somerset 16.7 21.0 20.9 
			 South West Peninsula 21.9 21.9 21.5 
			 (1) In 2003 the percentage of conceptions ending in abortion was 22.5 per cent. In 2004 (provisional data), it was 22.4 per cent. Provisional data for January to March 2005 is also 22.4 per cent.  Source: DH, ONS

Alcohol Misuse

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people, and at what grades, are employed in her Department to work on alcohol misuse strategies.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table in whole-time equivalents (WTE) for the senior civil service and the Department's integrated pay scales.
	
		
			   Total 
			 Senior civil service 0.4 
			 IP4 upper 0.5 
			 IP4 standard 1 
			 IP3 1 
			 IP1/2 0 
			 Total 2.9 
			  Notes: IPintegrated payband, IP1 being the minimum payband

Alcohol Treatment (Gloucestershire)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase access to specialist alcohol treatment services in Gloucestershire; what has been allocated to such services in 2006-07; and how that budget is allocated.

Caroline Flint: The Department's guidance on local programmes of improvement for alcohol treatment services was launched in November 2005. This is aimed at the local national health service, local authorities, voluntary bodies, and others seeking to work with the NHS to tackle alcohol misuse.
	Access to specialist treatment services is a matter for local primary care trusts (PCTs), who are responsible for improving the match of treatment provision they commission to the need of the local population for services. Information is not held centrally on local budgets.
	It is estimated that 217 million is currently being spent by PCTs on alcohol treatment. An additional 15 million has been allocated to all PCTs to improve alcohol services from 2007-08 onwards. Around 63,000 people are receiving treatment from specialist services, with additional people receiving treatment and support from their general practitioners.

Blood Donors

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the extent of the risk posed by women who give blood and engage in anal intercourse without then notifying the National Blood Service; and whether heterosexual women who engage in anal intercourse are considered high-risk blood donors.

Caroline Flint: The United Kingdom blood services together with the Health Protection Agency continually monitor donors who test positive for markers of infection with HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Syphilis and Human T-cell lymphotropic virus. Part of this process involves interviewing donors to determine the risk factors underlying their infection. This process has not suggested that heterosexual anal intercourse is a major risk factor for transmitting the infections tested for by the UK blood services.
	Other limited data available in the published literature do not suggest that within the UK, heterosexual anal intercourse, when compared to vaginal intercourse, is a major risk factor for the transmission of HIV or other transfusion transmissible infections.

Carers

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much was spent on short break provision in Wakefield in each of the last three years; and how many hours break this provides in each year;
	(2)  how many hours short break service on average were provided on behalf of people with a learning disability in Wakefield who receive the care component of disability living allowance at the  (a) highest,  (b) middle and  (c) lowest rate in the last period for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many  (a) carers of people with a learning disability,  (b) children with a learning disability and  (c) adults with a learning disability in Wakefield received a short break service in the last period for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 10 July 2006
	The information requested is not held centrally. It is the responsibility of local commissioners to ensure appropriate provision of services to meet their community's needs.

Climate Change

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of climate change on the demand for health services.

Caroline Flint: The report(1) on the Effects of Climate Change on Health in the UK, published in 2001, concluded that though an increase in illness due to hot weather was likely as the climate changed, this would be offset by a decline in the effects of cold weather. If effects on deaths can be taken as a guide to the demands on the health services it is likely that the decrease in cold weather-associated deaths will outweigh the increase in hot weather-associated deaths during the coming 50 or so years.
	The Department has produced a plan(2) for dealing with the effects of unusual spells of hot weather titled Heatwave Plan 2006.
	(1 )Climate Change report
	www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCare Topics/AirPollution/AirPollutionGeneralInformation/fs/en
	(2) Heatwave Plan 2006
	www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/LettersAndCirculars/DearColleagueLetters/DearColleagueLettersArticle/fs/en? CONTENT_ID=4135294chk=pWbz44

Dentistry

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many custom-made dental appliances were prescribed in 2005-06; and how many custom-made dental appliances have been prescribed since April 2006.

Rosie Winterton: There were 3.7 million payment claims for items of service that involved custom-made dental appliances made to the Dental Practice Board during the 12 months ending 31 March 2006.
	The information is not available in this form under the new system of dental remuneration. Providers of general dental service and personal dental services now have an agreed annual contract value, which is paid in 12 monthly payments instalments. In return for this contract value, the provider carries out over the course of the year an agreed number of units of dental activity that corresponds to overall course of treatment. The provider no longer has to submit data on the individual items of service within each course of treatment. Any dental appliances prescribed within a course of treatment are a matter for individual clinical judgment.

Dentistry

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the 400 million per year extra that has been spent on dentistry has been spent on dental technology and dental laboratories.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not allocate funds directly to dental technology or dental laboratories. The costs involved in having dental appliances manufactured for national health service patients are met by general dental practitioners from within the overall remuneration they receive for providing NHS services.

Dentistry

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for the future training of dental technicians.

Rosie Winterton: It is for higher and further education institutions to determine the provision they make for the training of dental technicians. I understand that a number of dental schools are considering whether provision for the training of dental technicians could be incorporated into the dental education expansion programme, but no specific proposals have yet emerged.

Dentistry

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition of a child was used in dental contracts before April 2006; what definition is used in contracts from April 2006; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The definition of a child in the National Health Service (General Dental Services Contracts) Regulations 2005 and National Health Service (Personal Dental Services Agreements) Regulations 2005 is a person who has not attained the age of 16 years.
	This definition applies only for the purposes of determining whether it is a child or his or her parent or guardian who may request treatment, express a preference of practitioner, give consent to treatment, or make a complaint about services. The same definition applied in the 1992 regulations that governed the provision of general dental services up until 31 March 2006.
	There has been no change to the groups of patients who are exempt from NHS dental charges. Children aged under 18, and those aged 18 and in full-time education, remain exempt from charges.

Dentistry

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of the new dental contract on the  (a) type and  (b) quality of dental appliances supplied.

Rosie Winterton: It is for individual dentists working under general dental services contracts or personal dental services agreements to use their clinical judgement to determine the type and quality of any dental appliance required. The Department does not collect routine information on the quantity or type of dental appliances supplied but will be assessing, in conjunction with the implementation review group, the impact of the new contractual arrangements on this and other aspects of the services provided to national health service patients.

Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual expenditure on training and development by  (a) her Department and  (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which she is responsible in  (A) Scotland,  (B) Wales,  (C) each of the English regions and  (D) Northern Ireland was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005-06.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Diabetes

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to encourage self-monitoring for diabetes patients.

Rosie Winterton: Structured education is seen by the diabetes national service framework (NSF) as one of the key interventions needed to help empower people with diabetes. The diabetes NSF is supported by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) health technology appraisal, number 60Guidance on the Use of Patient Education Models for Diabetes.
	This requires all primary care trusts to implement NICE recommendations by providing all people with diabetes with high quality, structured education, which should include self-monitoring.

Elderly Care (Cumbria)

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources have been allocated by the Commission for Social Care Inspection to the assessment of whether Cumbria county council is complying with national standards in the delivery of services for the care of the elderly.

Rosie Winterton: I am informed by the chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that it has a local inspection team based at Penrith, which is responsible for assessing residential and domiciliary care services for both adults and children in Cumbria. Inspectors assess services against the same standards, regardless of whether those services are provided by the county council or the private or voluntary sector.
	In addition to this, there have been service inspections, which cover assessment and care management delivered by the social services authorityCumbria county councilas well as direct care provision. Specific inspections of older peoples' services were carried out most recently earlier this year.
	Until last year, social services in Cumbria were receiving monthly monitoring visits and additional support because of concerns over their performance. In the performance assessment published in December 2005, the council was awarded one star; up from zero stars the previous year. The 2005 judgments in relation to adults', including older peoples', services were that Cumbria were serving some adults well, with uncertain capacity to improve.
	The budget available to CSCI's Penrith office in 2006-07 totals 937,000. Of this, staffing costs are 872,000.

Fluoridation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which areas in England the public water supply is fluoridated; and when fluoridation was introduced in each case.

Rosie Winterton: The information available is in respect of the strategic health authority (SHA) boundaries which obtained prior to 1 July 2007. The table shows the 10 such SHAs in which fluoridation schemes apply and the proportion of their populations estimated to be benefiting from receipt of fluoridated water. Fluoridation was introduced progressively to these areas over the period 1964 to 1988.
	
		
			  SHA area (up to 30 June 2007)  Percentage of total population fluoridated 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 12 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 97 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 14 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 20 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 6 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 8 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 47 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 35 
			 Trent 21 
			 West Midlands South 62

Health Care (Shropshire)

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients classified as obese there were in each GP practice area in Shropshire, in each year from 2000 to 2005;
	(2)  how many patients suffered a stroke in each GP practice area in Shropshire, in each year from 2000 to 2005;
	(3)  how many patients with  (a) asthma,  (b) clinical depression,  (c) diabetes and  (d) autism were registered with each GP practice area in Shropshire, in each year from 2000 to 2005.

Caroline Flint: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Information at general practitioner (GP) practice level is not collected for clinical depression, autism, and obesity.
	Information has been collected at GP practice level for asthma, diabetes and strokes since 2004-05. Figures for 2005-06 are not yet available.
	The following tables show the practice list size and the number of patients in each GP practice within Shropshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Telford and Wrekin PCT with: stroke and transient ischaemic attack; diabetes; and asthma.
	
		
			  Quality and outcomes framework (QOF) for April 2004 to March 2005, number on QOF disease registers by practice 
			 Shropshire County PCT  Practice list size  Stroke and transient ischaemic attack register count  Diabetes register count  Asthma register count 
			  10,202 191 283 646 
			  15,445 386 556 953 
			  8,352 186 287 580 
			  12,421 288 533 957 
			  7,385 220 260 402 
			  16,124 279 532 839 
			  3,281 67 138 247 
			  3,761 51 143 231 
			  8,579 184 326 547 
			  5,272 80 214 266 
			  9,608 248 287 673 
			  4,598 103 183 320 
			  5,242 160 163 467 
			  8,225 138 257 584 
			  3,043 40 82 106 
			  8,639 203 363 657 
			  11,726 188 461 764 
			  5,643 91 174 410 
			  2,777 55 71 143 
			  7,224 202 315 529 
			  6,762 113 224 440 
			  6,148 184 221 498 
			  3,451 77 163 160 
			  7,479 130 236 494 
			  5,217 128 161 281 
			  7,592 136 289 526 
			  9,005 238 352 655 
			  9,743 135 315 628 
			  4,241 71 130 276 
			  6,093 121 229 454 
			  7,183 156 312 473 
			  4,748 101 196 311 
			  4,279 98 198 344 
			  3,366 79 120 340 
			  6,578 133 210 582 
			  5,209 116 179 333 
			  6,849 118 275 527 
			  4,664 80 122 311 
			  3,880 74 149 262 
			  4,284 46 151 198 
			  7,420 128 204 545 
			  2,163 57 114 121 
			  1,934 42 67 104 
			  3,174 88 108 196 
		
	
	
		
			  Telford and Wrekin PCT  Practice list size  Stroke and transient ischaemic attack register count  Diabetes register count  Asthma register count 
			  2,782 32 87 161 
			  12,889 126 368 1,014 
			  10,066 151 483 567 
			  10,667 184 398 568 
			  11,657 188 412 765 
			  8,697 73 331 562 
			  12,807 218 508 809 
			  16,634 374 818 1,338 
			  20,341 367 799 1,181 
			  6,987 105 225 540 
			  2,732 16 92 203 
			  3,364 21 125 152 
			  11,290 128 273 613 
			  4,132 11 95 121 
			  9,342 70 192 668 
			  3,535 36 83 277 
			  2,817 24 81 108 
			  2,319 6 43 166 
			  2,478 13 85 188 
			  4,376 78 131 302 
			  1,781 6 54 111 
			  4,058 28 97 230 
			  Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care: QMAS database2004-05 data as at end of June 2005

Health Care (Shropshire)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect on Shropshire Primary Care Trust of the level of payments made by Powys Local Health Board for Welsh patients treated at the Royal Shrewsbury hospital.

Caroline Flint: National health service trusts, as providers of services receive the bulk of their revenue funding from commissioning by primary care trusts (PCTs), and in the case of trusts near the Welsh border, local health boards.
	Shropshire County PCT pays Shrewsbury and Telford hospital NHS Trust for the activity it carries out for its patients, as does Powys local health board.
	Shrewsbury and Telford hospital NHS Trust is currently in negotiation with Powys local health board over the appropriate levels of activity and payments for the coming year.

Health Trusts (Gloucestershire)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether those primary care trusts and health trusts within Gloucestershire consulting on how to deal with financial deficits will get an early sight of the criteria for community services under moving care closer to home.

Ivan Lewis: The Department's guidance on community hospitals, Our health, our care, our community: investing in the future of community hospitals and services, was published on 5 July 2006 and is available in the Library. The guidance has been drawn to the attention of chief executives of primary care trusts, strategic health authorities, national health service trusts and NHS foundation trusts in England.

Hospital Schemes

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list hospital schemes with a capital value over 20 million reaching financial close in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006,  (c) 2007 and  (d) 2008 and what the (i) capital cost and (ii) completion date is of each scheme.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Strategic health authority  National health service trust  Value  ( million)  Financial close/tender award date  Anticipated operational date 
			 North East Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals 299 27 April 2005 1 October2007 
			 East Midlands Daventry and South Northamptonshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) 28 3 March 2005 1 January 2008 
			 North East Northgate and Prudhoeneuro disability centre 24 21 July 2005 1 February 2007 
			 East Midlands Sherwood Forest Hospitals 326 29 October 2005 1 April 2009 
			 South Central Portsmouth Hospitals 236 12 December 2005 1 June 2009 
			 South Central Oxford Radcliffe Hospitalscancer 129 13 December 2005 1 April2008 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals 67 21 February 2006 1 April 2008 
			 East of England Ipswich Hospital 32 27 March 2006 20 November 2007 
			 London Barts and the London 1,000 27 April 2006 Q4 2013 
			 North West St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals 338 1 June 2006 Q4 2008 
			 West Midlands University Hospital Birmingham 697 8 June 2006 Q1 2010 
			 South West Taunton and Somersetcancer centre 18 10 July 2006 1 April 2008 
			 East of England Billericay, Brentwood and Wickford PCT 27 10 July 2006 1 June 2008 
			 North East Langbaurgh PCT 40 1 September 2006 1 October2008 
			 East Midlands East Lincolnshire PCT 25 1 October 2006 1 October 2008 
			 East Midlands Northamptonshire Healthcare 31 1 December 2006 1 December 2008 
			 East Midlands Mid Essex Hospital ServicesChelmsford 186 Q4 2006 Q2 2009 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Mid Yorkshire HospitalsWakefield 280 Q4 2006 Q1 2010 
			 East of England South Essex Partnership 25 1 January 2007 1 October 2008 
			 West Midlands Walsall Hospitals 100 Q1 2007 Q1 2009 
			 North West Tameside and Glossop Acute Services 91 Q1 2007 Q1 2009 
			 London North Middlesex University Hospital 108 Q1 2007 Q4 2009 
			 South East Coast Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells 428 Q1 2007 Q4 2010 
			 North West Salford Royal Hospitals 190 Q1 2007 Q4 2010 
			 West Midlands University Hospital of North Staffordshire 411 Q1 2007 (1) 
			 East Midlands Derbyshire Mental Health 29 Q1 2007 Q3 2008 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Selby and York PCT 25 Q1 2007 Q2 2009 
			 South West South Devon Healthcare 341 Q2 2007 (1) 
			 North East Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys 78 Q3 2007 Q3 2009 
			 East of England Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals 360 Q3 2007 Q1 2012 
			 East Midlands University Hospitals of Leicester 550 Q4 2007 Q2 2012 
			 North West Blackpool PCT 42 Q4 2007 (1) 
			 East Midlands Leicestershire Partnership 50 Q1 2008 Q2 2011 
			 East Midlands Melton, Rutland, and Harborough PCT 30 Q1 2008 (1) 
			 East Midlands Hinckley and Bosworth PCT 36 Q1 2008 (1) 
			 North East Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys/Derwentside PCT 40 Q1 2008 (1) 
			  
			  Prioritised public capital schemes by tender award and operational (defined as first patient day) date 
			 London Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children 75 Q1 2007 (1) 
			 London West London Mental HealthBroadmoor 243 Q1 2008 (1) 
			 (1) Being finalised

National School Fruit Scheme

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many schools are participating in the national school fruit scheme; and how many deliveries are made per week to these schools.

Caroline Flint: There are now 16,413 schools (98.9 per cent. of eligible schools) participating in the school fruit and vegetable scheme, and nearly 2,000,000 children are receiving a free portion of fruit or vegetable every school day.
	The variety of storage facilities available in schools means we have to deliver frequently to ensure the produce supplied does not deteriorate. When the scheme was introduced schools received three deliveries per week. As the scheme has developed we have managed to reduce the frequency of deliveries to five per fortnight for the vast majority of schools.

NHS Work Force

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which jobs have been moved from non-clinical to clinical staff groups in the NHS work force since 1997;
	(2)  which job codes have been moved from non-clinical to clinical staff groups in the NHS work force since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The annual work force census uses occupation codes to record the number of people in job roles. The census has not recorded any occupational codes which have moved from non-clinical to clinical staff groups in the national health service work force since 1997.

Nurses

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of qualified nurses residing in England who are unemployed;
	(2)  how many foreign nationals were employed as nurses within the NHS in 2005-06.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.

Nurses

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether nurses trained and qualified within the UK are recruited ahead of foreign nationals.

Rosie Winterton: Recruitment is a local matter for national health service trusts. Trusts will normally recruit to vacancies from within the local labour market. Where trusts are unable to find appropriately qualified and experienced staff, for example in certain clinical specialisms, they may decide to undertake international recruitment.

Nurses

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses entered full-time employment within the NHS within one year of being qualified in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.

Nurses/Midwives (Redundancies)

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many redundancies of  (a) nurses and  (b) midwives there have been in the NHS in each of the last nine years.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.

Obesity

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of  (a) children and  (b) adults were (i) obese and (ii) overweight when measured by body mass index according to the Government's most recent health surveys in each (A) London borough and (B) constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The main source of data on the prevalence of obesity and overweight among children and adults is the Health Survey for England (HSE). Data are not available in the format requested. Tables one to three show the most recent data on the prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adults. In all the tables overweight excludes obese and data are only available for males/females. The sample size of the HSE does not allow data to be produced at the level of boroughs or individual constituencies.
	Table 1 presents data on overweight and obesity among adults in each of the strategic health authorities (SHA) within the London Government Office Region (GOR) as a three-year average over the period 2000-02.
	
		
			  Table 1: prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults( 1)  in each London SHA, by gender (three-year average) 2000-02 
			  England 
			   Percentage 
			   North East London  North West London  North Central London  South East London  South West London 
			  Men  
			 Overweight 40.9 41.9 39.4 43.3 46.7 
			 Obese 17.4 14.4 18.1 17.9 22.6 
			   
			  Women  
			 Overweight 34.5 28.9 31.5 33.5 28.3 
			 Obese 23.8 22.1 18.8 20.5 25.9 
			 (1) All aged 16 and over.  Source: Health and lifestyle indicators for SHAs, 1994 to 2002 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the prevalence of overweight and obese adults in England in 2004.
	
		
			  Table 2: prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults( 1)  in England, 2004( 2) 
			  England 
			   Men  Women 
			 Overweight (percentage) 43.9 33.9 
			 Obese (percentage) 22.7 23.2 
			 Bases (number) 39,244 39,802 
			 (1) All aged 16 and over. (2) Figures are weighted for non-response.  Source: Health and lifestyle indicators for SHAs, 1994 to 2002 
		
	
	Table 3 shows the proportion of children aged two to 15 estimated to be overweight and obese in England in 2004.
	
		
			  Table 3: prevalence of overweight and obesity among children( 1)  in England, 2004( 2) 
			  England 
			   Boys  Girls 
			 Overweight (percentage) 13.9 16.6 
			 Obese (percentage) 19.2 18.5 
			 Bases (number) 8,833 8,228 
			 (1) Aged two to 15. (2) Figures are weighted for non-response.  Source: Health Survey for England 2004updating of trend tables to include 2004 data

Papilloma Virus Vaccine

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what information she has received on the progress of human papilloma virus vaccines; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what meetings  (a) she and  (b) her Department's officials have had to plan for the introduction of the human papilloma virus vaccination programme.

Caroline Flint: Research has suggested that human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines may provide real benefit. The Department is currently seeking expert advice on the efficacy, safety and benefits that these new vaccines may offer.
	Officials have met with manufacturers of the HPV vaccines to discuss research results and timescales for the development and likely licensure of the vaccines. A joint committee on vaccination and immunisation subgroup met in May 2006 to review all the available information on HPV vaccines and will hold further meetings during 2006.

Patient Transport

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the  (a) availability and  (b) suitability of (i) the Patient Transport Service, (ii) ambulance cars and (iii) public transport for cancer patients attending hospital regularly for chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has not made a specific assessment of the availability or suitability of the patient transport service, ambulance cars or public transport for cancer patients regularly attending hospital for chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
	Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for ensuring that there is provision of ambulance services, which could include patient transport services, to such extent as they consider necessary to meet all reasonable requirements. It is, therefore, for the local national health service to decide who provides patient transport services for eligible patients in their area, and what transport is provided.
	The White Paper Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services sets out that in future, local authorities and PCTs will need to work together to influence providers of local transport in planning transport networks.
	Guidance on commissioning ambulance services, Driving change: Good practice guidelines for PCTs on commissioning arrangements for emergency ambulance services and non-emergency patient transport services, was issued by the Modernisation Agency in 2004. A copy of this document is available in the Library for reference.

Pensioners Abroad

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with the Czech Republic on the provision of health care for UK pensioners resident in that country;
	(2)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with Denmark on the provision of health care for UK pensioners resident in that country;
	(3)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with Cyprus on the provision of health care for UK pensioners resident in that country;
	(4)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with Belgium on the provision of health care for UK pensioners resident in that country;
	(5)  what  (a) bilateral and  (b) multilateral arrangements the United Kingdom has with Austria on the provision of health care for UK pensioners resident in that country.

Rosie Winterton: There are arrangements co-ordinating the social security and healthcare systems of all the member states of the European Union. This is covered by Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 which is a multilateral instrument.
	It provides that pensioners living in another EU member state who are receiving a United Kingdom state retirement, long-term incapacity or bereavement pension, are entitled to healthcare on the same basis as that country's own insured persons.

Post-operative Mortality Rate

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the post-operative mortality rate has been in NHS hospitals in each year since 1997; what assessment she has made of the post-operative mortality rate in other developed countries; what steps she is taking to reduce the post-operative mortality rate; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The specific information as requested in not collected centrally.
	The National Centre of Health Outcomes Development (NCHOD) publishes data on post-operative death rates for emergency procedures. This is available for primary care trusts and strategic health authorities for the last six years up to 2003-04. This is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Deaths within 30 days of a hospital procedure: surgery (non-elective admissions) 
			   1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04 
			 Number of Completed in-patient spellsDenominator 337,430 350,864 347,810 348,459 358,147 367,400 
			 Number of deathsNumerator 18,295 18,258 17,553 17,001 17,272 17,273 
			 Standardised Postoperative death rate(1) 5,363.7 5,223.8 5,002.7 4,878.9 4,917.1 4,850.2 
			 (1) Precisely: the indirectly age, sex and OPCS4 chapter/selected sub-chapter standardised rate per 100,000 people.  Source:  Hospital Episodes Statistics, NCHOD financial yearFebruary 2005 and National Statistics Indirectly age and sex standardised rates per 100,000 people Standardised to persons 2001-02 
		
	
	Post-operative death rates by trust are also published by the Healthcare Commission as part of trusts' star ratings. The latest information is available for the calendar year 2004 at:
	ratings2005.healthcarecommission.org.uk/Trust/Indicator/indicators.asp?trustType=l
	There are no comprehensive reviews available on international comparisons of post-operative mortality rates.
	The level of risk is dependent upon the type of operation. There are many different operations carried out with different risks. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence through its guidance, National Patient Safety Agency through its national reporting and learning system and patient safety solutions and the national confidential enquiry into patient outcome and death, work to improve standards of healthcare for the benefit of the public.

Rheumatology Consultants

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many rheumatology consultants there are per head of population in England.

Rosie Winterton: The following table shows the number of rheumatology consultants there are per head of population in England.
	
		
			  Hospital and community health services (HCHS): medical and dental consultants working in the rheumatology specialty, England as at 30 September 2005 
			  Number (headcount) 
			   Number  Consultants per 100,000 head of population( 1) 
			 Consultants 31,993 63.9 
			  Of which:   
			 Rheumatology 505 1.0 
			 (1) Population figures are taken from the 2001 ONS resident estimates. 2005 population data at SHA level are not yet available, therefore, 2004 population data have been used in 2005 calculations. Due to this, calculations for 2005 are subject to change.  Sources:  The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census 2001 Office of National Statistics Population Census

Road Accidents (Seat Belts)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the cost to the national health service during the last 12 months of attending to people not wearing seat belts who were injured in road accidents; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Government do not have an estimate of the cost to the national health service of attending to people involved in road accidents, who were not wearing seat belts. However, the wearing of seat belts is estimated to prevent over 2,000 road fatalities each year.

Short Break Services

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much was spent on short break provision in Oxfordshire in the last year for which figures are available; and how many hours break that expenditure provided;
	(2)  how many hours short break service, on average, were provided on behalf of people with a learning disability in Oxfordshire who receive the care component of disability living allowance at the  (a) highest rate,  (b) middle rate and  (c) lowest rate in the last period for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many  (a) carers of people with a learning disability,  (b) children with a learning disability and  (c) adults with a learning disability in Oxfordshire received a short break service in the last period for which figures are available.

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much was spent on short break provision in Somerset in the last period for which figures are available; and how many hours' break that expenditure provided in total;
	(2)  how many hours' short break service, on average were provided on behalf of people with a learning disability in Somerset who received the care component of disability living allowance at the  (a) highest,  (b) middle and  (c) lowest rate in the last period for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many  (a) carers of people with a learning disability,  (b) children with a learning disability and  (c) adults with a learning disability in Somerset receive a short break service.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally. It is the responsibility of local commissioners to ensure appropriate provision of services to meet their community's needs.

Smoking

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding the Government plan to provide to local authorities to implement the proposed smoking ban.

Caroline Flint: Under the regulation-making powers in clause 10 of the Health Bill the Government intend to designate local authorities as the enforcement authorities for smoke-free legislation.
	As set out in the Choosing Health White Paper, the Government have always committed to provide adequate funding for local authorities to undertake this work, in line with the New Burdens Doctrine. Discussions are currently taking place with stakeholders, including the Local Government Association, on the detail of arrangements for enforcement.

Suicide Rates

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the recorded suicide rates were in each English constituency in each month since January 2001.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 11 July 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the recorded suicide rates were in each English constituency in each month since January 2001. I am replying in her absence. (83356)
	Mortality rates for parliamentary constituencies cannot be provided for the years requested because population estimates are not available for these areas. The most recent year for which figures are available is 2005. A table which shows the number (rather than the rate) of deaths with an underlying cause of suicide or injury/poisoning of undetermined intent by month for each parliamentary constituency in England for the years 2001 to 2005 has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Terminal Patients

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms exist to prompt healthcare professionals to discuss special rules claims for  (a) disability living allowance and  (b) attendance allowance with (i) patients with a terminal disease and (ii) carers of patients with a terminal diagnosis.

Rosie Winterton: It would not be appropriate for healthcare professionals to advise people about claiming benefits to which they might be entitled.
	The Government recognise that finance is an issue of great importance to people with serious illness. Departmental officials are working with those in the Department for Work and Pensions, which has the expertise and knowledge to inform people about arrangements for claiming benefits and their entitlement to different benefits, to take steps for patients to be signposted to benefits information.

Tetanus

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with tetanus in each month since March 1997.

Caroline Flint: Data on the notifications of cases of tetanus by age group and sex for England and Wales for the period 1969 to 2005 are shown in the table and are also available on the Health Protection Agency website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/tetanus/data_not_age_ sex.htm
	
		
			   Age group (years) 
			   0-4  5-14  15-24  25-44 
			   Male  Female  Male  Female  Male  Female  Male  Female 
			 1969 0 0 4 0 1 0 3 1 
			 1970 2 0 4 0 2 1 1 1 
			 1971 1 0 2 3 3 0 3 0 
			 1972 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 3 
			 1973 0 1 2 1 1 1 3 0 
			 1974 0 0 0 0 2 3 3 2 
			 1975 1 0 0 1 2 1 1 0 
			 1976 0 1 1 0 2 0 3 1 
			 1977 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 0 
			 1978 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 
			 1979 0 0 0 0 4 1 4 0 
			 1980 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 
			 1981 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 
			 1982 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 
			 1983 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 
			 1984 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 1985 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 
			 1986 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 
			 1987 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 1988 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 3 
			 1989 0 0 2 0 0 1 2 1 
			 1990 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 1991 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 1992 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 
			 1993 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 
			 1994 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 1995 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 1996 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 1997 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 1998 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 1999 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 2000 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 2002 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 2003 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 1 
			 2004 0 0 2 0 0 2 (1)4 1 
			 2005(2) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			   Age group (years)  
			   45-64  65  Not known  All ages  
			   Male  Female  Male  Female  Male  Female  Male  Female  Total 
			 1969 2 3 3 0 1 1 14 5 19 
			 1970 1 0 2 8 0 0 12 10 22 
			 1971 1 5 2 4 0 0 12 12 24 
			 1972 1 1 4 5 0 0 11 9 20 
			 1973 1 3 2 7 0 0 9 13 22 
			 1974 2 2 1 1 0 0 8 8 16 
			 1975 3 3 5 7 0 0 12 12 24 
			 1976 1 2 3 1 0 0 10 5 15 
			 1977 3 0 2 6 0 0 9 7 16 
			 1978 2 5 2 3 0 0 6 9 15 
			 1979 2 2 1 6 0 0 11 9 20 
			 1980 4 4 2 2 0 0 10 8 18 
			 1981 4 1 1 2 0 1 10 5 15 
			 1982 0 2 3 5 0 0 4 8 12 
			 1983 2 1 0 1 0 0 4 2 6 
			 1984 1 3 0 1 0 0 2 4 6 
			 1985 1 1 1 6 0 0 3 9 12 
			 1986 2 0 1 4 0 0 5 6 11 
			 1987 2 0 4 1 0 0 6 3 9 
			 1988 3 0 1 2 0 0 6 6 12 
			 1989 2 2 1 5 0 0 7 9 16 
			 1990 1 1 2 4 0 0 3 6 9 
			 1991 0 2 2 2 0 0 3 5 8 
			 1992 0 0 2 0 2 0 5 1 6 
			 1993 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 8 8 
			 1994 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 3 
			 1995 0 2 1 1 0 1 2 4 6 
			 1996 1 0 1 3 1 0 4 3 7 
			 1997 0 1 1 4 0 0 1 6 7 
			 1998 1 2 0 3 0 0 2 5 7 
			 1999 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 2 3 
			 2000 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 
			 2001 2 0 2 1 0 0 5 1 6 
			 2002 1 2 1 0 0 0 2 2 4 
			 2003 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 6 8 
			 2004 2 1 0 0 0 0 (1)8 4 (1)12 
			 2005(2) 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 3 
			 (1) Includes one duplicate report from 2003 (2) Provisional.  Note: Last update: 11 April 2006  Sources: Registrar General's Annual Report Office for National Statistics Communicable Disease Statistics Series MB2 CDSC, Notifications of Infectious Diseases

University Hospital of North Tees

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what capital spending has been made on  (a) the maternity unit,  (b) the neonatal unit,  (c) the paediatric unit,  (d) the breast unit and  (e) gynaecology services at the University Hospital of North Tees since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Violence against Staff

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many physical assaults against staff were carried out by patients being treated in  (a) mental health services and  (b) learning disability services in 2004-05;
	(2)  how many of the physical assaults against staff in mental health services in 2004-05 were carried out by patients receiving compulsory treatment under the powers of the Mental Health Act 1983;
	(3)  how many physical assaults against NHS staff were carried out by  (a) patients and  (b) relatives of patients in 2004-05.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not collected centrally in the format requested, however, the NHS Security Management Service is currently considering further methods of data collection for the number of assaults against national health service staff.

Violence against Staff

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of violence against staff there were  (a) in total and  (b) in the accident and emergency department at (i) the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and (ii) Worthing Hospital in each of the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 10 July 2006
	The information requested is not held centrally in the format requested. However, figures recently collected by the NHS Security Management Service showed that there were 125 assaults against staff in Brighton and Sussex university hospitals national health service trust and 51 assaults against staff in Worthing and Southlands NHS trust in 2004-05.

Youth Sports Trust

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what grants her Department has made to the Youth Sports Trust in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: We have worked closely with the Youth Sport Trust to increase participation in physical activity in children and young people through the Schools on the Move pedometer pilot. Specifically, the Department, working in partnership with the Department for Education and Skills, has provided 106,000 in funding to the Youth Sport Trust between March 2005 and March 2006 to project manage and deliver the Schools on the Move programme, as well as to commission an evaluation of the pilots.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Advertising Campaigns

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what advertising campaigns her Department has run since July 2004; and what the  (a) date and  (b) cost was of each.

Patrick McFadden: Significant advertising campaigns in support of specific policies are managed centrally through the Cabinet Office Communication Group and placed through the Central Office of Information (COI).
	Details of advertising costs are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Campaign  Period  Expenditure () 
			  2004-05   
			 Preparing for Emergencies July-August (1)2,000,000 
			 Direct Gov September 2004-March 2005 306,471 
			 Fast Stream Recruitment Throughout year 81,000 
			 Departmental recruitment Throughout year 236,828 
			  2005-06   
			 Direct Gov March 2006 864,732 
			 Do the Honours Campaign January-March 2006 21,217 
			 Fast Stream recruitment Throughout year 47,888 
			 Departmental recruitment Throughout year 201,647 
			  2006-07   
			 Fast Stream recruitment Throughout year 15,935 
			 Departmental recruitment Throughout year 514 
			 (1) This was the Cabinet Office contribution to a cross-government campaign.

Charity Commission

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many officials of the Charity Commission were formerly employed  (a) in the Civil Service,  (b) in the Home Office,  (c) elsewhere in the public sector,  (d) in the private sector and  (e) in the voluntary sector;
	(2)  how many former Home Office employees work at each grade in the Charity Commission.

David Miliband: This is a matter for the Charity Commission as the Government Department responsible for the regulation of charities in England and Wales. The Executive Director of Charity Information and Corporate Services at the Charity Commission will write to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library for the reference of Members.

Civil Contingencies Secretariat

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent assessment she has made of personnel levels within the Civil Contingencies Secretariat.

David Miliband: holding answer 3 July 2006
	As part of the Department's annual planning process, Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) personnel levels were reviewed alongside other Units within the Cabinet Office in June 2006. CCS resources for 2007-08 remain in the range of 85-90 staff (including those at the Emergency Planning College).

Correspondence

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2006,  Official Report, column 315W, on correspondence, what estimate she has made of the cost of answering a question; and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Armstrong: It is not possible to separately identify the average cost of officials' time in replying to letters from hon. Members and members of the public. Such correspondence is often of a varied and complex nature. Therefore any exercise to determine the average cost in officials' time in responding to letters would incur disproportionate cost.
	It is not possible to separately identify stationery and postage costs for the Department when replying to correspondence from hon. Members and members of the public.

Departmental Publications

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if she will list the unnumbered command papers produced by her Department in each session since 1976; by what means  (a) hon. Members and  (b) members of the public can (i) inspect and (ii) obtain copies; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: Documents which are laid before Parliament as unnumbered command papers are generally restricted to Explanatory Notes to Treaties, Explanatory Memorandums to Statutory Instruments and some Treasury Minutes. All other documents are published in the numbered command papers series.
	A complete list of unnumbered command papers is not collected centrally.

Ministers/Civil Servants

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) civil servants work in (i) Admiralty House, (ii) Admiralty Arch, (iii) the Ripley Building, (iv) Old Admiralty Building and (v) Admiralty Citadel.

Patrick McFadden: The number of Ministers and civil servants working in Admiralty House, Admiralty Arch and the Ripley Building is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Building  Ministers  Civil servants 
			 Admiralty House 0 1 
			 Admiralty Arch 0 237 
			 Ripley Building 1 69 
		
	
	The Cabinet Office does not occupy Old Admiralty Building and the Admiralty Citadel. These buildings are owned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Office of Public Services Reform

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the reasons were for the abolition of the Office of Public Services Reform.

Patrick McFadden: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the then Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Murphy) to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 25 April 2006,  Official Report, column 1052W.

Parliamentary Questions

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance she produces for other Government Departments on answering a similar or identical question tabled to each Government Department; what criteria she uses in selecting the questions to provide guidance on; and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Armstrong: The Government made clear in their response to the Third Report of Session 2003-04 from the Public Administration Select Committee, that while Government Departments may liaise with each other when they receive the same question, this co-ordination
	does not cut across the line of ministerial accountability which is that it is for individual Ministers to decide on the final content of an answer to a parliamentary question.(1)
	(1) Page 3, HC 1262, Ministerial Accountability and Parliamentary Questions: Government Response to the Committee's Third ReportFirst Special Report of Session 2003-04

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what written guidance for Departments has been produced regarding the publication of preliminary regulatory impact assessments.

Patrick McFadden: The Government have provided written guidance for Departments regarding the publication of regulatory impact assessments. This guidance is publicly available on the Cabinet Office website at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/ria/ and will be placed in the Library for the reference of Members.